Nuvaxovid vaccine in patients with CLL

[BART4]

Hi Have any of you recently had the Nuvaxovid vaccine? I wonder how people with CLL react to this vaccine. thanks for the answer.

[neurodervish]

This is a great question Bart. I was a bit confused by the name, but learned that the Novavax vaccine has the brand names: Nuvaxovid and Covovax.

I was hopeful about this vaccine from the beginning. It does not need to be kept at extremely cold temperatures, so distribution and storage are easier. Also, because it is not an mRNA drug, hopefully more people might be willing to use it. But most people seem finished with covid, even if it's not finished with us.

Because the Novavax/Nuvaxovid booster is just coming out now (in the US anyway), it's difficult to gauge its effect on CLL patients. The big question for CLLers is whether Novavax could help patients who receive drugs that inhibit the vaccine's efficacy. I was unable to find an answer to that question.

There is some evidence that a "mix & match" approach to vaccines confers better immunity. This piece from the New England Journal of Medicine suggests, "We may increasingly need to mix and match vaccines to leverage the benefits of each of these platforms." nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/N...

Apparently Novavax cannot be updated for new variants as quickly as the mRNA vaccines, but it has similar efficacy. According to this article from Scientific American, "Novavax has about the same efficacy as other COVID vaccines, says infectious disease researcher Kirsten Lyke of the University of Maryland. A study published this month found that the Novavax booster was about 55 percent effective at preventing COVID symptoms and 31 percent effective at preventing infection, which is similar to the mRNA vaccines." scientificamerican.com/arti...

Thanks for posting. I plan to ask my CLL specialist about it at my next appt.

[KatieBlue]

I had it toward the end of October. I don’t know whether or not I got any protective antibodies from it, however.

I did not from prior J&J followed by mRNA. I don’t know that I will pursue another antibody test due to it being an additional exposure risk.

That said, there are some studies coming out indicating novavax is more effective against current variants and for a longer time period than the mRNA vaccines. And there are some studies being undertaken to see whether it may be a more effective vaccine for immunocompromised individuals.

[Lilsa]

Hi, I had Novovax in Australia in June. I am also not sure if I produced any antibodies from this vaccine.

I can say however that the side effects from the Novovax were non existent, while both Pfizer and Moderna mMRNA shots had me out of action for 48 hours with fever and headaches.

I will very happily have another Novovax and hope that it turns out Novovax is more suitable for immunocompromised people. Thank you KatieBlue.

Keep walking

Lilsa

[Unglorious in reply to Lilsa]

Hi,

I just read your post re: Novovax, I experienced severe side effects when I had the Moderna shot 6 months ago. When I had the Pfizer vaccine previous to that, no side effects. I am due for a booster vaccine shot and I am conteplating getting the Novovax shot. I found it interesting that you had zero side effects from the Novovax shot.

Do you have to get a second shot of this vaccine in a couple of months, or is this effective for the next six months?

I would appreciate a response from you. Thanks for taking the time.

[Unglorious in reply to Lilsa]

Hi Lilsa, I wrote to you a few days ago, I hope I am not invading your space, but I was hoping for a reply RE; Novovax which I am interested on getting but a bit reluctant. I had horrible side effects from the Moderna booster six months ago. Would appreciate a reply, thank you for your time. Keep well and safe.

[neurodervish in reply to Unglorious]

I see you're in Canada, and I'm not sure what the recommendations are there. The CDC in the US recommends, "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) accepted the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for the use of the two-dose Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, administered three to eight weeks apart, for people 18 or older. ama-assn.org/delivering-car...

I'm going to try and get this one next. Mix & match seems to be a good combo.

[Unglorious in reply to neurodervish]

Thank you for your reply. Waiting for contact from my pharmacy as to the arrival of this vaccine at the pharmacy. My problem is that I am always weighing the pros and cons of all the vaccines available. I do know that the Moderna vaccine gave me terrible side effects as opposed to the Pfizer which did not. I do appreciate that now we have a choice, but being on a BTK inhibitor, how much protection would I really get?

[neurodervish in reply to Unglorious]

That's a good question. KatieBlue is on a BTKi and recently got the Novavax. C'mon Katie, in the name of science, please go get another antibody test! 😍😍😍

[Justasheet1 in reply to neurodervish]

Neuro,

I have 3 total Moderna Covid vaccines and had antibody testing after all three.

I was on Ibrutinib full dose. I never made any reported antibodies.

I caught Covid after Thanksgiving in 2022. My local hematologist tested me 7 months later in June and also while I was now on Acalabrutinib.

I now had a result of 464

I also had Covid again in November of 2023 and received a prescription for Paxlovid and my wife also had Covid and also received Paxlovid.

She is a healthy female with no health issues and I recovered faster than she did.

From my perspective my immune system responded robustly to an actual infection and poorly to the vaccine.

If the vaccine helped me it did in ways that a antibody test couldn’t register.

Jeff

Covid antibody test in 2023

[Justasheet1 in reply to Justasheet1]

My test after 2 Moderna’s in 2022

2022

[neurodervish in reply to Justasheet1]

Interesting. Is it safe to assume the antibodies came from a covid infection?

[Justasheet1]

Neuro,

Nothing else possible. No vaccinations during that period.

Lasting antibodies too. 7 months after infection.

I’m strong like an Ox it seems 🤣

Jeff

[neurodervish in reply to Justasheet1]

That's pretty amazing! Why not take one for the team and get the Novavax next, so we can use your data? (Well, not me, because I'm not on a BTKi, but everyone who is.) 😍😍

[Justasheet1 in reply to neurodervish]

Neuro

I’m all for it but I just recovered from Covid last month and I’m sure I still have some antibodies from that which would skew the results of the vaccine.

Jeff