Sweden First to Procure Only Protein-Based COVID Vaccine for National Campaign

Sweden has awarded its 2027–2028 COVID-19 vaccination contract to Sanofi for its protein-based Nuvaxovid, making it the first country to procure exclusively a non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for a national campaign, according to an Oct. 28 statement by Jonathan Gilthorpe, Ph.D., an associate professor at Umeå University, and Vibeke Manniche, MD, Ph.D. Sanofi had announced the selection in April. Under the contract, Sweden's 21 healthcare regions will receive shipments of Nuvaxovid beginning in mid-2027 for individuals aged 12 and older. The contract runs from June 1, 2027, to Aug. 31, 2028, with final volumes set in March 2027. No contracts were signed to make COVID-19 vaccines available to children under 12. Unlike mRNA vaccines, which direct the body's cells to produce the spike protein, Nuvaxovid provides the immune system with a ready-made version of the protein directly. A completed Phase 4 trial found that Nuvaxovid recipients experienced less severe and shorter-lasting side effects than those who received Moderna's mRNA vaccine, mNEXSPIKE; however, Nuvaxovid's package insert still lists serious possible side effects, including myocarditis and pericarditis. Importantly, mRNA vaccines have not been banned: they remain legal in Sweden, and the country will continue dispensing existing mRNA COVID-19 vaccines until mid-2027. Sweden also continues to recommend COVID-19 vaccination for adults with health conditions and older healthy adults.