The national drug regulator has given the green light to the Novavax vaccine, along with two oral treatments for patients currently suffering from COVID-19. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) on Thursday approved the Novavax vaccine, also called Nuvaxovid, for adults aged 18 years and over, making it the first protein-based COVID-19 vaccine in the country’s arsenal. It is advised to be used as a primary vaccine only as studies into using Novavax as a booster shot are still in progress. Health Minister Greg Hunt on Thursday said he hoped the new jab would increase the nation’s vaccination rates. “We know that some people have waited for this vaccine, and … hopefully, this will encourage those people in the last five percent to come forward,” Hunt said. He said the government had secured 51 million doses of the vaccine, with the first batch to arrive in the coming month. The jab—which …