The US Food and Drug Administration authorised the use of Novavax's Covid-19 vaccine on Wednesday, clearing the way for a shot whose more traditional technology has raised hopes of wider acceptance among vaccine sceptics.
Shares of Novavax rose 1.3 per cent to $70.89 after its two-dose vaccine became the fourth Covid shot to be authorised for use by adults in the US.
The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still needs to sign off on the use of the vaccine before it can be made available.
A panel of CDC vaccine advisers is expected to meet on Tuesday, but the agenda has not been released yet.
Earlier this week, the US government said it had secured 3.2 million Novavax vaccine doses, which it plans to release once the company finishes quality testing in the next few weeks.
More than two thirds of the US population has been fully vaccinated with shots from Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech or Johnson & Johnson.
US health officials hope that people who have chosen not to take the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which are based on groundbreaking messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, will instead opt for Novavax's protein-based shot.
The vaccine, already approved in Europe, uses on a technology that has been used for decades to combat diseases including hepatitis B and influenza.
“Today's authorisation offers adults in the United States who have not yet received a Covid-19 vaccine another option that meets the FDA's rigorous standards,” FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said in a statement.
In Europe, however, demand for the shot has not been especially high, with about 242,000 doses of the vaccine administered since its launch in December, prompting Novavax to increase its focus on lower-income countries.
The company's initial application for authorisation of the shot in the US was delayed by almost a year on development and production problems, making it a late entrant in the country's market for Covid vaccines.
STAR%20WARS%20JEDI%3A%20SURVIVOR
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Respawn%20Entertainment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Electronic%20Arts%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsoles%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PC%2C%20Playstation%205%2C%20Xbox%20Series%20X%20and%20S%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
