PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – Beginning Monday, August 1, the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) will begin offering the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine in effort to increase options and access to COVID-19 vaccines. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the emergency use authorization of the Novavax vaccine on July 13, followed by approvals from both the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on July 19 and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup on July 22.

“We are thrilled to begin offering the Novavax vaccine to our community,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “With more options available, we are increasing access to these life-saving vaccines. We urge everyone to become vaccinated and protected if they haven’t already. Vaccines are safe and effective at preventing serious illness, hospitalization and death.”

The Novavax vaccine, which is approved for use for adults ages 18 and older, will be administered as a two-dose primary series three to eight weeks apart. Novavax is a protein-based vaccine designed and manufactured differently than the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines such as Pfizer and Moderna. The technology used in Novavax has been widely used in FDA-approved vaccines for decades. Additionally, Novavax offers an alternative for those who may be allergic to the mRNA vaccines.

While the Novavax vaccine will not be listed as an available option on MyTurn until the end of August, those interested in receiving the Novavax vaccine can request it at one of the City-run vaccine clinics beginning August 1. 

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to contact their health care provider to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines, now available to everyone 6 months old and older. Vaccines are safe and effective, having undergone rigorous safety monitoring. Parents and guardians are encouraged to sign their children up for V-Safe to share information with the CDC about how their child feels, post vaccine. It is recommended that any suspected adverse events following vaccination be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS). 

The Health Department continues to urge everyone to get vaccinated and boosted when eligible, as it remains the single best way to protect yourself and those around you against COVID-19. Vaccines are safe and effective in preventing COVID-19 infection and especially effective at preventing hospitalization, serious illness or death among breakthrough cases of the virus. To view the most up-to-date vaccine clinic schedule and to schedule an appointment, visit longbeach.gov/vaxLB or call 562.570.4636. People also can visit MyTurn.ca.gov to find vaccine appointments for the whole family.

For the latest information on COVID-19, with details on all that the City of Long Beach is doing to keep our residents safe, visit longbeach.gov/COVID19 and follow @LongBeachCity and @LBHealthDept on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. People may also visit longbeach.gov/COVID19data for up-to-date information regarding cases and vaccines in Long Beach.