Health Canada approves updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine

A vial of the Phase 3 Novavax coronavirus vaccine is seen ready for use in the trial at St. George's University hospital in London Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. (Alastair Grant / AP Photo)

An updated version of Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine has been approved by Canada’s health agency.

According to a Thursday update on the government’s vaccine portal, Health Canada will replace the older version of the protein-based vaccine, Nuvaxovid XBB.1.5. The new version will include an update to the antigen composition targeting the JN.1 variant.

"After a thorough scientific review Health Canada has approved the company’s JN.1 Variant vaccine,” the agency posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

On Tuesday, Health Canada also authorized an updated Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, called Spikevax, which has been reformulated to target the KP.2 subvariant of Omicron. It is expected to begin arriving in Canada soon.

The agency is still reviewing Pfizer’s updated vaccine, an mRNA-based formula like Moderna’s.

Earlier this month, Health Canada ordered older versions of the vaccine to be destroyed as the new ones become available.

According to Public Health Agency of Canada, the JN.1 group is still the dominant lineage group in the country.