It will be administered to residents at the Health Department’s vaccine clinic on Wednesday
Frederick, Md. (KM) – Frederick County residents have another choice when it comes to COVID-19 vaccines. Novavax is available, and will be administered during the Health Department’s vaccination clinic at 585 Himes Avenue in Frederick on Wednesday, August 3rd along with Moderna and Pfizer.
Rissah Watkins with the Frederick County Health Department, says Novavax differs from Moderna and Pfizer which are messager vaccines that instruct the body to create defenses against the COVID-19 virus. Novavax is protein-based and already has those defenses against the coronavirus. “The technology used in Novavax is very similar to the protein-based influenza vaccine that a lot of people get every year,”: she says. “This is a mechanism that people are very familiar with.”
The Novavax vaccine, manufactured by a biotechnology company based in Gaithersburg, Md., was developed before the Omicron variant of COVID-19 was first detected. “Novavax has released some results that show that the Novavax vaccine is effective against the Omicron and some of the subvariants,” Watkins. “So that is something that is going to be continued to be looked at very closely because we definitely want to have the best protection possible.”
Anyone who wants to receive the Navovax vaccine from the Frederick County Health Department can go on line to covidvax.maryland.gov or call 1-855-MDGoVax (1-855-634-6829) between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM seven days a week, and make an appointment.
But Watkins says the Novavax vaccine has some stipulations. “This vaccine is recommended for adults 18 and older who have not already received a COVID vaccine,”: she says. “So if you’ve received Moderna or Pfizer and you’re thinking about getting a booster, you still need to get Moderna or Pfizer as that booster. Novavax is not recommended as a booster at this point.”
The Health Department says COVID-19 vaccines are free and insurance is not required. You’re also urged not to show up more than 15-minutes before your appointment so that long lines can be avoid. And please don’t to the vaccination clinic if you have symptoms or are waiting for the results of a COVID-19 test, the Health Department says.
By Kevin McManus