The United Kingdom approved its first protein-based COVID-19 vaccine, made by Novavax. The vaccine, called Nuvaxovid (generic name NVX-CoV2373), is the fifth COVID-19 vaccine authorized by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the U.K.’s independent medicines regulator. Other COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the U.K. include those from Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna,  Johnson & Johnson, and Oxford/AstraZeneca. Nuvaxovid is authorized in the U.K. for people aged 18 and over for a first and second dose. “It is great to see our world renowned medicines regulator approve another COVID-19 vaccine,” U.K. Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said in a statement. “I want the UK to be the best place in the world to conduct clinical trials. It’s a testament to the country’s first-rate research and development capabilities for vaccines—with tens of thousands of people taking part in clinical trials here in the U.K., contributing to the invaluable research that shows …