Supplies of Novavax Covid-19 vaccine to expire by Dec 31, new formulation under assessment

SINGAPORE - Those who want to get the

Novavax Covid-19 vaccine jab

must do so by Dec 31, as current supplies will expire on that day.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Dec 3 that the vaccine manufacturer no longer makes the current formulation, and is in the process of getting an updated formulation approved.

Those who wish to take an additional dose of the vaccine should do so around one year, or at least five months, from their last jab.

The updated JN.1 mRNA vaccines – including Pfizer-BioNTech/ Comirnaty and Moderna/ Spikevax – will still be available at vaccination sites, and mobile vaccination teams will continue to be deployed across Singapore.

“We encourage everyone, especially those aged 60 years and above or medically vulnerable, to remain updated with their vaccination based on the prevailing recommendations,” said MOH.

The

current formulation of the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine was made available

in Singapore under the National Vaccination Programme (NVP) on May 28.

A previous formulation of the jab had been discontinued from the NVP since Jan 1, 2024, when the remaining local stock of that vaccine expired and was no longer supplied by the manufacturer.

The protein-based vaccine was recommended for those unable to receive mRNA vaccines, except those who are diagnosed with myocarditis – or inflammation of the heart muscle – or pericarditis after a previous dose of an mRNA vaccine.

Pericarditis is the swelling and irritation of the thin tissue surrounding the heart.