U.S. health regulators authorized the use of Novavax Inc.’s NVAX, +0.27% COVID-19 vaccine, providing a new option that works differently than the two leading vaccines, but at a time when overall demand for vaccines and boosters is low, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Food and Drug Administration said adults 18 and older may receive Novavax’s vaccine, once the shots have been approved by the CDC, expected in the coming days. The news comes as the daily average for new cases is ticking higher and stood at 130,511 on Wednesday, according to a New York Times tracker, up 16% from two weeks ago. The daily average for hospitalizations rose to 38,971, up 19% in two weeks. And the positivity rate on COVID tests stands at 18%, the highest since Feb. 1. The daily average for deaths is up 11% to 430. Globally, the confirmed case tally rose above 559.5 million on Thursday, according to data aggregated by Johns Hopkins, while the death toll is above 6.36 million with the U.S. leading the world with 89.2 million cases and 1,023,620 deaths.
