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The Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has empower a novel expression of the COVID-19 vaccinum made by the Maryland - based pharmaceutic company Novavax , the agency announcedTuesday ( Oct. 3 ) . The newly update " nanoparticle " vaccinum joins the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines already cleared for use in the U.S.

The Novavax shot now include a spike protein — a pointy structure incur on the computer virus ’s surface — from a rendering of the computer virus that is currently circulating , call XBB.1.5 . The widespread subvariant branched off of theomicronfamily tree . Compared to its old chemical formula , the new Novavax shot is anticipate to provide better trade protection against both XBB.1.5 and its near relatives that stem from the same arm .

close up of a person�s hand as they extract vaccine from a vial labeled "novavax"

Including the Novavax shot, there are now three updated COVID-19 vaccines available for 2023-2024.

The gibe has been authorized for function in citizenry ages 12 and older .

" Today ’s authorization provides an additional COVID-19 vaccinum option that get in touch with the FDA ’s standards for safety , effectiveness and manufacturing caliber needed to back emergency purpose authorization,“Dr . Peter Marks , director of the FDA ’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research , say in the federal agency ’s proclamation . " As we channelize into the fall time of year and transition into 2024 , we strongly encourage those who are eligible to consider find an update COVID-19 vaccinum to bring home the bacon good aegis against currently circulating variants . "

Related : Who should get the new COVID vaccines ? What to know about the 2023 - 2024 shots

an illustration of vaccine syringes with a blue sky behind them

update COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer - BioNTech and Modernawere approved in September , but the Novavax shot is based on unlike technology .

The Pfizer - BioNTech and Moderna shots containmRNA , a genetic atom that carries instructions for human prison cell to build the spike protein once the vaccinum enters the body . In contrast , theNovavax vaccine bear nanoparticlesmade out of laboratory - made spike proteins — so the spike protein are made by cells in a lab , rather than inside the human consistency .

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In improver , the Novavax shot contains an " adjuvant , " a kernel that rev up up the immune organization to mount a warm reception to the vaccine .

A conceptual illustration with a gloved hand injecting a substance into a large tumor

The FDA saysthat individuals who have antecedently been vaccinated for COVID-19 can get one dosage of the updated Novavax shot , provide that their last shooting was given at least two months ago . mass who have never been immunize against COVID-19 can get two sexually transmitted disease of Novavax , space three weeks apart . the great unwashed with dampen immune systems can consider getting a second dose of the updated vaccinum two months after their first .

Additional Lucy in the sky with diamonds " may be administered at the free will of the healthcare provider , taking into condition the person ’s clinical lot , " the FDA noted .

Close up of a medical professional holding a syringe drawing vaccine from a vial to prepare for injection.

an infant receives a vaccine

A woman lies in bed looking tired and sick

A doctor places a bandaids on a patient�s arm after giving them a shot

An illustration of Y shaped antibodies in front of a coronavirus particle, blurred in the background

An older man stands in front of the National Covid Memorial Wall in London in the UK.

A young woman in a surgical mask sit in a doctor�s office as a doctor cleans her arm for a vaccination

an open box of astrazeneca vaccine vials, with one vial pulled out to show the label

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An illustration of microbiota in the gut

an illustration of DNA

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An image of the Eagle Nebula, a cluster of young stars.

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