Nuvaxovid XFG-adapted vaccine cleared for 2026-2027 season

What this means

Nuvaxovid is Novavax's protein-based COVID-19 vaccine — a lab-made version of the virus's spike protein combined with an adjuvant (Matrix-M) that helps the immune system respond to it. On August 27, 2026 the FDA approved an updated version formulated to target the currently circulating JN.1-lineage XFG variant. As part of a narrower access policy the FDA has now applied to all COVID-19 vaccines for the 2026-2027 season, US eligibility is restricted to adults 65 and older, or to people ages 12-64 with a qualifying underlying condition that raises the risk of severe respiratory illness. Nuvaxovid uses standard refrigerated storage (2-8°C) and comes as a prefilled syringe. Sanofi handles US and most international commercial activities under a partnership with Novavax; Takeda handles Japan. This is one of four updated vaccines cleared the same day; the mRNA options are Pfizer-BioNTech's Comirnaty and Moderna's Spikevax.