Novavax Covid Vaccine Shows Milder Side Effects Than Pfizer-BioNTech's Shot: Study

Novavax, Inc. NVAX on Tuesday released preliminary results from the SHIELD-Utah study investigating the effects of systemic and local reactogenicity of COVID-19 vaccine doses in Utah.

SHIELD-Utah was a prospective, interventional study conducted at the University of Utah Health.

The study showed Novavax’s COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted (2024-2025 Formula), targeting the JN.1 strain, resulted in fewer and less severe reactogenicity symptoms when compared with the Pfizer Inc PFE-BioNTech SE’s BNTX mRNA 2024-2025 vaccine.

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This real-world study, conducted between September and December 2024, also showed that the impact of symptoms on daily activities, including work and family responsibilities, was lower in recipients of Novavax’s vaccine.

“The risk of side effects or reactogenicity has been shown to be a major decision factor for those opting to get vaccinated. Our findings of lower frequency and intensity of reactogenicity symptoms from the protein-based COVID-19 vaccine observed in SHIELD-Utah add valuable insights to the public debate weighing choice and value of COVID-19 vaccination,” said Sarang K. Yoon, DO, MOH, Principal Investigator, University of Utah Health.

As in previous studies, the SHIELD study found health care workers who received the Novavax vaccine reported significantly fewer reactogenicity events than Pfizer-BioNTech recipients.

On average, Novavax recipients experienced 1.7 symptoms versus 2.8 systemic symptoms in Pfizer-BioNTech recipients.

43.8% of Pfizer-BioNTech recipients experienced at least one symptom of Grade 2 or higher compared to 24.2% of Novavax recipients.

Local reactogenicity events also showed an absolute difference of 12.5% fewer in Novavax recipients versus Pfizer-BioNTech recipients.

The impact of symptoms on daily activities, including work, showed the hours of reduced activity were lower in Novavax recipients versus Pfizer-BioNTech recipients (mean=0.7 vs. 1.4h and mean=0.8 vs. 2.4h for missed work and less productivity, respectively).

Earlier this month, the regulators missed the deadline for deciding to grant full approval to Novavax’s COVID-19 shot.

Price Action: NVAX stock is down 3.60% at $6.18 at the last check Tuesday

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