New Zealand medicines regulator Medsafe has granted provisional approval of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, Nuvaxovid, for adults 18 years and over.
"The Medsafe team has worked tirelessly to ensure that COVID-19 vaccine applications are prioritised and urgently reviewed, while still maintaining the same scrutiny that all medicine applications undergo before they can be approved," says Chris James, Group Manager, Medsafe.
Medsafe has now approved COVID-19 vaccines that use three different technologies.
"Medsafe only approves a vaccine or medicine for use in New Zealand once it is satisfied that it has met acceptable standards for quality, safety and efficacy," says Mr James.
Medsafe's provisional approval is one step in a process. Ministers will consider advice from the Ministry of Health about whether to use Nuvaxovid vaccine in New Zealand. Guidance will also be provided by the COVID-19 Vaccine Science and Technical Advisory Group.
