MU Health Care has limited doses of the vaccine which has received emergency authorization

MU Health Care will offer the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine to those 18 and older during a vaccination event next week.

The Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization to Novavax July 13. MU Health Care has received a limited number of Novavax doses, and will offer a special vaccination event Tuesday, Aug. 23 from 5:15 p.m. until 7:45 p.m, at South Providence Medical Park in Columbia by appointment only.

“The Novavax vaccine works differently than the newer mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna,” said MU Health Care vaccine co-chair and family medicine physician Laura Morris, MD. “Instead of mRNA, this vaccine contains a coronavirus protein formulated so that it cannot cause COVID-19 disease. It works much like a traditional flu vaccine.”

The second dose of the two-dose series will be administered on Sept. 13. In clinical trials, the vaccine was shown to be 90 percent effective at preventing mild, moderate and severe disease.

The Novavax vaccine is not a booster dose. If you have not previously received a COVID-19 vaccine and would like to schedule an appointment to receive the Novavax vaccine during the special event, please call (573) 771-CARE.