Schmidt Kramer partner Scott Cooper was recently interviewed for a story about the new Novavax COVID-19 vaccine and how it may impact religious exemptions to COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Novavax’s new vaccine has been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and uses traditional virus-blocking technology instead of mRNA technology. This is different from the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines that use mRNA technology.
The Novavax shot injects the spike protein into the body, like the Hepatitis B and tetanus vaccines. This is like the other vaccines children are required to get before going to school.
Some health experts think this new vaccine could help address religious objections to vaccine requirements. Novavax is not using human cell lines and no cell lines that came from aborted tissue, according to Dr. John Goldman, infectious disease expert at University of Pittsburg Medical Center.
People who ask for a religious exemption to vaccine mandates may face an uphill battle because the Novavax shot is available.
“Now you don’t have that reason,” says Scott Cooper. “What’s the actual reason? And what’s the religion?”
Employees who are employed at will could be risking getting fired if they decide not to get any of the four vaccines that are available.
Novavax’s vaccine has two doses and is available for anyone 12 years of age or older.