The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine could be an option for some of the thousands of service members who have refused other coronavirus vaccines for religious reasons.
New COVID-19 vaccine under review could give U.S. military a way to get shots into some of the thousands of service members who have refused the vaccine for religious reasons. https://t.co/zMxmPKuvol
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 9, 2022
The Associated Press reports at least 175 active duty and reserve service members have already gotten the Novavax shot. The Defense Department allows its use because it has emergency use approval by the World Health Organization and is being used in Europe.
An FDA advisory committee gave the Novavax shot a thumbs up for emergency use authorization in the U.S. on Tuesday.
More from the AP:
The Novavax vaccine may be an acceptable option for some of the 27,000 service members who have sought religious exemptions from the mandatory vaccine. Military officials say many troops who refuse the shots cite certain COVID-19 vaccines’ remote connection to abortions.
Laboratory-grown cell lines descended from fetuses that were aborted decades ago were used in some early-stage testing of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and to grow viruses used to manufacture the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The vaccines do not contain fetal cells.
Novavax, however, says that ”no human fetal-derived cell lines or tissue” were used in the development, manufacture or production of its vaccine.
Even with no ties to abortions, I think those who claimed religious issues still won’t get this shot either.
FDA panel recommends Novavax COVID vaccine be the fourth allowed for use in US https://t.co/9H0S4eWOhv
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) June 7, 2022