New Zealand is one step closer to rolling out the Novavax protein-based COVID-19 vaccine called Nuvaxovid, with the country’s medicines regulator, Medsafe, granting provisional approval for the vaccine to be used in adults aged 18 and over. Announcing the decision on Feb. 4, Chris James, group manager for Medsafe, said the organisation had worked tirelessly to ensure that “COVID-19 vaccine applications are prioritised and urgently reviewed, while still maintaining the same scrutiny that all medicine applications undergo before they can be approved.” “Medsafe only approves a vaccine or medicine for use in New Zealand once it is satisfied that it has met acceptable standards for quality, safety, and efficacy,” James said in a release. The provisional approval means the Ardern government must now decide whether or not to approve the use of the Nuvaxovid vaccine in New Zealand. The Ministry of Health has noted that ministers would be seeking guidance on …