Product Focus: NUVAXOVID™ (Protein-Based, Adjuvanted COVID-19 Vaccine)

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to impose a substantial health burden despite the end of the public health emergency phase. Older adults, individuals with chronic medical conditions, and residents of community-based care settings such as assisted living facilities, residential care communities, home health programs, and long-term care facilities remain at increased risk for severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Recent analyses indicate that adults aged 65 years and older account for a disproportionate share of COVID-19-associated hospitalizations and deaths, highlighting the ongoing need for effective vaccination strategies in vulnerable populations. Offering both mRNA and protein-based vaccine options may improve overall vaccine uptake in these settings.

NUVAXOVID™ (Sanofi) is a recombinant protein-based, adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine and is currently the only non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine available in the United States. Unlike mRNA vaccines, NUVAXOVID™ directly delivers prefabricated SARS-CoV-2 spike protein nanoparticles combined with the Matrix-M adjuvant to stimulate an immune response. This traditional vaccine platform may be acceptable to individuals who are hesitant about mRNA technology or who have previously experienced significant reactogenicity following mRNA vaccination. In 2025, the U.S. FDA granted full approval of NUVAXOVID™ for adults aged 65 years and older and for individuals aged 12 to 64 years with conditions that increase their risk for severe COVID-19. The updated 2026-2027 NUVAXOVID™ vaccine incorporates the XFG spike protein, a contemporary JN.1-lineage variant selected by regulators to improve alignment with currently circulating SARS-CoV-2 strains while retaining the familiar protein-based vaccine platform preferred by some vaccine-hesitant patients.

As COVID-19 transitions to a seasonal respiratory pathogen, maintaining vaccine uptake among high-risk populations remains a major public health initiative. NUVAXOVID™ is an effective, protein-based COVID-19 vaccine with a well-established safety profile and demonstrated protection against severe COVID-19 outcomes. For community care populations, where COVID-19 continues to cause disproportionate hospitalization and mortality, staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccination is essential. The COMPARE trial provided compelling evidence that NUVAXOVID™ is associated with significantly lower reactogenicity and greater patient acceptance than a contemporary mRNA vaccine, making it an attractive option for individuals with mRNA vaccine hesitancy or concerns about post-vaccination adverse effects. Offering NUVAXOVID™ as part of a patient-centered vaccination strategy may improve vaccine uptake and provide meaningful protection for vulnerable populations. Please consider sharing, or printing and posting the attached materials to promote NUVAXOVID™ uptake amongst appropriate staff and residents in your community.

© 2026 HealthDirect Pharmacy Services MTK-1402  September 2026