Across New Jersey, more than 3,100 new positive cases of COVID-19 and 11 more deaths are being reported Thursday as public health leaders look for an updated vaccine booster from Moderna to target the omicron variant and curb the pandemic further — and the possibility of an entirely new vaccine option from Novavax. If approved, the Novavax vaccine would be the fourth vaccine available against COVID-19.
Stephanie Silvera, an epidemiologist from Montclair State University discusses the implications of the Moderna booster, the potential new vaccine and how these could affect the course of the pandemic. “The delivery mechanism for Novovax is really similar to other vaccines that have been on the market for years — for shingles, for hepatitis, for the flu. I think what the hope is is that people who are a little bit wary of the newer technology may be more willing to get this vaccine,” Silvera said.
