COVID-19 protein-based vaccine

Approved in Canada:

• Novavax (Nuvaxovid) - may not be available in Alberta, and its availability is not guaranteed

Who can get this vaccine

Everyone is at risk of COVID-19. You can get a protein-based COVID-19 vaccine if you are age 12 years or older and you cannot have or do not want an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 vaccines are free.

Who should not get this vaccine

You may not be able to get the protein-based COVID-19 vaccine if:

• You have an allergy to any part of the vaccine.
• You had a severe (serious) or unusual side effect after this vaccine or one like it.
• You are under age 12 years.

If you have allergies or have had a side effect to this vaccine, check with your doctor or a public health nurse before you get the vaccine.

Although you can get the vaccine if you have a mild illness such as a cold or fever, you should stay home until you are feeling better to prevent spreading your illness to others.

Check with your healthcare provider about when you can get the protein-based COVID-19 vaccine if you had COVID-19 in the past.

Be sure to talk to your doctor before you get the protein-based COVID-19 vaccine if:

• You have a weak immune system (because of a medicine you take or a health problem).
• You have an autoimmune disorder (like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus).
• You have had a stem cell or organ transplant.
• You have a history of myocarditis or pericarditis within 6 weeks of getting a dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Already had COVID-19

If you have already had COVID-19, it is not yet known how long your protection will last or how much protection you will have against variants. It is important to get a COVID-19 vaccine even if you have already had the virus.

The vaccine may give you better protection if you wait a while after having COVID-19 and then get a vaccine. How long to wait depends on your health history, the number of doses of COVID-19 vaccine you have had, and your risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.

If you have had COVID-19 in the past, check with your healthcare provider about when to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Weak immune system

Research has shown mRNA vaccines provide the best protection for people with a weak immune system. Talk to your healthcare provider about which vaccine is best for you.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

You can get a protein-based COVID-19 vaccine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. However, research shows that mRNA vaccines are the safest type of COVID-19 vaccines to get during pregnancy. There is more to learn about getting a protein-based COVID-19 vaccine when you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

When you are pregnant, you have a higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine lowers your risk of getting seriously ill from the virus.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is recommended that you talk to your healthcare provider before getting a protein-based COVID-19 vaccine.

Doses

COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATE
The updated XBB COVID-19 vaccine (made to protect against the newest strains of COVID-19) will likely be available in the coming weeks. You should consider delaying your COVID-19 booster dose until this vaccine becomes available.

Primary series

You need at least 2 doses of the protein-based COVID-19 vaccine. These doses are called your primary series.

(If you got a viral vector-based vaccine, for a primary series, you need at least 2 doses if you got the AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD vaccine and 1 dose if you got the Janssen vaccine.These vaccines are no longer available in Alberta.

For some people, 2 doses may not give enough protection. You may need a third dose to complete your primary series if you have a health problem that weakens your immune system. For example:

• You have had or will have an organ or stem cell transplant.
• You have kidney disease and need dialysis.
• You have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
• You take certain medicines that weaken your immune system.

Studies have shown that a third dose may provide better protection for adults with a weak immune system. In children with a weak immune system, an extra dose may also give better protection, but research is still happening to learn more. If you get a 3-dose primary series of the protein-based vaccine, this is considered “off-label use.” This means the vaccine is not licensed (approved for use) in this situation but is supported by vaccine experts.

Booster doses

A booster dose will help to keep you protected for longer.

You can get up to 2 booster doses of the protein-based vaccine, but if you got a protein-based vaccine as a booster dose on or after September 21, 2022, then no further doses of the protein-based vaccine are recommended. However, you can still get at least 1 booster dose of a bivalent mRNA vaccine, or 2 doses if you are at high risk of severe illness.

When to get a booster dose

You need to wait 6 months after getting your last dose of COVID-19 vaccine or being infected with COVID-19 before you get a booster dose. Waiting 6 months helps the booster dose give you better protection.

If you have had a stem cell transplant or are getting CAR T-cell therapy (a type of treatment for certain cancers), talk to your healthcare provider about when you can get your booster dose.

If you get a booster dose of the protein-based vaccine and it is sooner than 6 months after your last dose, or if you have already had a protein-based vaccine booster dose, or if you are age 12 to 17 years of age, it is considered “off-label use.” This means the vaccine is not licensed (approved for use) in this situation but is supported by vaccine experts.

Talk to your healthcare provider about when you should get your booster dose.

Vaccines for primary series

It is recommended that you get a bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for your primary series. If you cannot get or do not want a bivalent mRNA vaccine, you can get the protein-based vaccine, if available, if you are age 12 years or older.

Usually you get the same vaccine for all your doses. If your first-dose vaccine is not available or you cannot have it, you can get a different COVID-19 vaccine for your next dose.

Whichever vaccine you get to complete your primary series protects you against COVID-19.

Vaccines for booster dose

It is recommended that you get a bivalent mRNA vaccine for your booster dose.

If you cannot get or do not want a bivalent mRNA vaccine, you may be able to get the protein-based vaccine, if available, if you are age 12 years or older.

Talk to your healthcare provider about which vaccine is best for you. Go to ahs.ca/seconddose for more information.

Consent for immunization

Consent for a COVID-19 vaccine for children under age 18 years is provided by a parent or guardian. If a parent or guardian cannot be at the appointment, they can use the consent form at COVID-19 consent for children under 18. In some cases, children under age 18 years may be able to give their own consent.

Alternate decision-makers (could be an agent, guardian, specific decision-maker, or co-decision-maker for another person) can use this consent form when they cannot attend an immunization appointment with the person they are authorized to make decisions for. Alternate decision-makers must also include (with the consent form) a copy of documents showing they are the person’s authorized decision-maker.

The person being immunized must bring the completed and signed consent form to their appointment.

How well it works

How well the vaccines work against COVID-19 is different for each variant of the virus. COVID-19 vaccines are the best way to lower your risk of getting COVID-19 or getting very sick from it.

The mRNA vaccines give the best protection. The Pfizer-BioNTech Bivalent and the Moderna Bivalent vaccines are the only vaccines available in Alberta made to protect against the Omicron variants, which are the strains that are currently spreading. However, all the vaccines work very well to lower your risk of getting seriously ill and needing to be in the hospital.

COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines

You can get most vaccines at the same time as, any time before, or any time after the protein-based COVID-19 vaccine. However, certain vaccines have a waiting period. If you had another vaccine in the last 2 weeks, check with your healthcare provider about when you can get the protein-based COVID-19 vaccine.

Side effects

There can be side effects from the protein-based COVID-19 vaccine, but they tend to be mild and go away in a few days. Side effects may include:

• redness, swelling, or feeling sore where you had the needle
• headache, feeling tired or unwell
• a fever or chills
• body aches, sore joints, or pain in your legs or arms
• feeling sick to your stomach (nausea) or vomiting (throwing up)

At least 1 out of 100 people who got this vaccine reported 1 or more of these side effects. In some cases, it is unknown if the vaccine caused these side effects.

Current information shows that you are more likely to have these side effects after your second dose of the protein-based vaccine.

Research continues to find out more about the risk of side effects after additional doses.

It is important to stay at the clinic for 15 minutes after your vaccine. Some people may have a rare but serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. If anaphylaxis happens, you will get medicine to treat the symptoms.

It is rare to have a serious side effect. Call Health Link at 811 to report any serious or unusual side effects.

Rare events

There have been very rare reports of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the lining around the heart) shortly after getting the protein-based vaccine. The reported cases were mild and got better with treatment. It is still not known if these events were caused by the vaccine, and research is happening to learn more about the risk of these rare events after getting the protein-based vaccine.

The inflammation can cause shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, or a very fast or abnormal heart rate. Get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms.

It is not known if having a history of myocarditis or pericarditis puts you at higher risk of having these rare events after a COVID-19 vaccine. Talk to your doctor before you get a dose of COVID-19 vaccine if:

• You had myocarditis or pericarditis within 6 weeks of getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
• You have a history of myocarditis or pericarditis and you have questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Your risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 is much higher than your risk of having a rare event after these vaccines.