Editor’s note: This is an update to an article originally published on June 28.

“Novavax is made of proteins that resemble proteins in the SARS-CoV-2 virus,” says Taia T. Wang, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of medicine and of microbiology and immunology at Stanford University in California. “Those proteins are processed by the body to stimulate the production of B and T cell responses that can fight off the virus.”

Who Should Opt for Novavax?

Peter Chin-Hong, MD, an infectious-disease specialist affiliated with UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco, says that although the Novavax shot has not yet been widely used, it is a highly effective choice that may help improve vaccination rates.

“People who have had severe side effects from mRNA vaccines — like myocarditis [inflammation of the heart] — often do very well with Novavax because it is a different compound and type of vaccine,” says Dr. Chin-Hong. “Also, people who are worried about the ‘newness’ of mRNA vaccines may opt to use a more traditionally made vaccine like Novavax.”

He adds that some people may avoid mRNA shots because of a myth that these vaccines alter cells’ DNA. “This is not true, as the vaccine mRNA gets destroyed by the body after the message is read,” says Chin-Hong.

All three brands of COVID-19 vaccine have been shown to offer strong protection against complications from infection that can lead to serious illness, hospitalization, and death.

How Have This Fall’s COVID Vaccines Been Updated?

Similar to the influenza virus, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 mutates (changes), and updated shots from all the major vaccine producers are intended to better target the most recently circulating virus strains.

What Do COVID Shots Cost Now?

But a Novavax representative told Everyday Health that most adults should be able to access the different COVID vaccines through insurance or additional assistance programs.

If you need help finding a vaccine near you, check the federal government website Vaccines.gov.