With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
Novavax, The New COVID Vaccine, Will Be Available This Week In LA
A woman receives a COVID-19 vaccine at Ted Watkins Memorial Park in Watts in May.
(
Ashley Balderrama for LAist
)
A more traditional kind of COVID-19 vaccine will be available starting Wednesday at Los Angeles County vaccine sites. Health officials hope Novavax will appeal to the 1.5 million adult Angelenos who still haven't been vaccinated against the coronavirus.
The mRNA vaccines made by Moderna and Pfizer stimulate the immune system by injecting snippets of genetic code for a key protein from the virus into the body. Although they are very safe and highly effective, some people have been reluctant to get them because of misinformation about their safety.
In contrast, the Novavax vaccine injects copies of the spike protein that are grown in a lab and resemble a virus to the immune system, prompting an immune response. It’s the same technology used to make shingles and hepatitis B shots.
Both approaches have proved successful against COVID-19.
Support for LAist comes from
Large studies in the U.S. and Mexico involving 30,000 patients found two doses of the Novavax vaccine were safe and about 90% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19. However, the studies ended last fall, before the omicron variant was detected in the U.S. Novavax is testing shots updated to better match the newest omicron subtypes BA.4 and BA.5.
There is some evidence the Novavax vaccine may cause a rare but temporary swelling of the heart, which also occurs sometimes in people who get one of the other COVID-19 vaccines. But federal health officials concluded that the benefits of the Novavax vaccine outweigh the risks and authorized its use in the U.S. in July.
L.A. County residents can walk into any Public Health vaccination location to receive the vaccine beginning Aug. 3, 2022.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Immigration raids have caused some U.S. citizens to carry their passports to the store, to school or to work. But what documents to have on you depends on your citizenship. -
The historic properties have been sitting vacant for decades and were put on the market as-is, with prices ranging from $750,000 to $1.75 million. -
Users of the century old Long Beach wooden boardwalk give these suggestions to safely enjoy it. -
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high.
Best of LAist