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Another COVID-19 vaccine option is now available to unvaccinated Alabama adults. The Alabama Department of Public Health has ordered 8,000 doses of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, and 5,000 of those doses are being sent to county health departments throughout the state.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention endorsed the recommendation from its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices that the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is available for people ages 18 years and older.

The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is a two-dose primary series administered 3 to 8 weeks apart. People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should also receive 2 doses, given 3 weeks apart. A third primary dose is not currently authorized. Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is not authorized for use as a booster dose.

In clinical trials, vaccine side effects were mild. The most common side effect was pain at the injection site. Side effects that happen within seven days of getting vaccinated are common, but they are mostly mild and only last a few days.

Novavax uses a more traditional protein-based technology, unlike the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines which use mRNA technology.

Information about COVID-19 vaccine providers and clinics can be found at alabamapublichealth.gov.