Collier Drug Stores now offering new Novavax COVID-19 vaccine

Collier Drug / File photo

A new COVID-19 vaccine option is now available in Fayetteville.

Collier Drug Store officials told us the pharmacy is now offering the newly approved Novavax COVID-19 vaccine at all NWA locations.

The new vaccine received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to provide a two-dose primary series for active immunization against COVID-19 last month.

Officials are hopeful the new vaccine, which was made with traditional vaccine technology and not the newer mRNA technology used in the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, will be appealing to a larger audience who were hesitant to get the previously approved vaccines.

“The Novavax (vaccine) is what we call a protein subunit vaccine,” Jennifer Dilliha, Director of the Department of Health, told KNWA last week. “It’s a well established technology that vaccine makers have used for a long time to stimulate the immune system to develop immunity for a virus or our bacteria.”

The Novavax vaccine is only available to adults 18 and older who have not been vaccinated for COVID-19 yet. It is not available as a booster dose at this time. According to the CDC website, the vaccine is given in two doses, 3-8 weeks apart.

Vaccine appointments at Collier Drug are available via their booking site.