Excellent broad cross neutralization to variants with the upcoming JN.1 Novavax COVID vaccine, including some of the best responses to variants that are likely to be dominant this late fall and early winter novavax.widen.net/s/zg79lxwknx/2…
The latest CDC nowcast shows a rapid rise in KP3.1.1, which is the variant with best response to the NVX JN.1 vaccine. Others variants to keep an eye on include LB.1 (a direct JN.1 descendant) and LP.1 (KP1.1 descendant) covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tra…
This follows an expected decline in KP.2 over the last few weeks, which is one reason why VRBPAC recommended not chasing this branch (KP.2 variant) but to target the trunk (JN.1).
Ultimately as the antigenic distance is very close for all major circulating variants, all vaccine options should be very good, and provide good protection against infection and severe disease (even when compared with infection-acquired/natural immunity). cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/7…
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
New randomized trial of COVID vaccines: bivalent Moderna mRNA and ancestral Novavax protein over a full year of follow-up. High level findings:
- IgG higher in mRNA
- Both had similar interferon gamma responses (proxy for T cell immunity)
- Both similarly protective vs infection
The randomized design is valuable. In observational studies, groups receiving mRNA v protein vaccines are quite different in terms of demographics & behavior, which impacts both immunogenicity and effectiveness. The full year of follow-up is also valuable. journalofinfection.com/article/S0163-…
1) Moderna bivalent generated higher IgG titers, in line with prior studies. Importantly, previous studies show similar effectiveness between mRNA & NVX even w/ different IgG levels. IgG levels are a good correlate of protection within a vaccine platform, but not across platforms
New paper showing Novavax JN.1 booster elicits broad cross neutralization across circulating omicron strains, including LP.8.1, XEC, LF.7, and NB.1.8.1.
Link to paper:
Reactogenicity remained similar to prior NVX boosters (e.g. similar to flu and many other conventional vaccines) sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
XFG, the currently dominant strain in the US, is a combination of LF.7 and LP.8.1. This was not included in the paper but both LF.7 and LP.8.1 showed a good response.
Quick personal note. A close friend recently died from a heart attack a week after COVID.
COVID increases risk of cardiac events.
It may have faded from the news cycle, but COVID continues to take people from their families. Please take it seriously.
I’ve gotten questions about whether JN.1- or LP.8.1-based COVID vaccines are better.
Short answer: both should be similarly effective against currently circulating strains. The important thing is to get vaccinated.
Longer answer: see thread
We are fortunate in that nearly all currently circulating strains stem from JN.1 (i.e. JN.1 lineage). JN.1 first emerged in late 2023 and became dominant during the winter 2023-2024 surge. Since then, we have gone through waves of KP.2, KP.3, XEC, and in spring 2025, LP.8.1.
Given the dominance of LP.8.1 during the spring, many suspected the WHO committee on COVID-19 vaccine composition (TAG-CO-VAC) and the US FDA Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) would select LP.8.1. However, selection of a dominant strain (assuming forward drift) is potentially flawed.
New study evaluating vascular and inflammatory diseases after COVID-19 infection and vaccination in nearly 14 million children.
Large persistent increase in major cardiovascular risks following infection. A small transient myocarditis risk following vaccination
Paper:
"COVID-19 infection in children & young people was associated w/ elevated risks... including venous thromboembolism, thrombocytopenia, myocarditis, & pericarditis particularly in the first month... w/ some risks remaining elevated up to 12 months"thelancet.com/journals/lanch…
"By contrast, COVID-19 vaccination was associated with a short-term increased risk of myocarditis or pericarditis, mainly within the first 4 weeks. However, no increased risk was observed beyond that period, and there was no evidence of long-term myocarditis signal"
Excellent study on correlates of protection for nuvaxovid / novavax. Higher IgG and nAb levels are excellent predictors for risk of any and severe infection. Helpful data on durability as well. 🧵
This study group received the original wuhan vaccine and assessed IgG and nAb levels vs Delta. This phase 2 follows the initial CoP analysis, which had no severe cases. That is great, but precluded analysis for severe COVID: nature.com/articles/s4146…
A key finding was that there were no severe cases above the 33rd percentile of IgG levels at day 35 - i.e. based on initial immune responses, no one with an average immune response had severe illness.