Lolita C. Baldor, The Associated Press Posted on Thursday, June 9, 2022 6:06 AM EDT Last Updated on Thursday, June 9, 2022 6:07 AM EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) – A COVID-19 vaccine that could soon get federal approval could provide a boost for the U.S. military: an opportunity to vaccinate some of the thousands of service members who have turned down other vaccines the coronavirus for religious reasons.
At least 175 members of the active and reserve service have already received the Novavax vaccine, some even traveling abroad to get it. The vaccine meets the requirements of the Department of Defense because it is approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization and is used in Europe and other regions. The Food and Drug Administration is considering granting an emergency use permit in the United States
The Novavax vaccine may be an acceptable option for some of the 27,000 service members who have applied for religious exemptions from the mandatory vaccine. Military officials say many firing squads cite the remote connection of certain COVID-19 vaccines to abortions.
Laboratory-grown cell lines descended from fetuses that were aborted decades ago were used in some initial tests of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and to grow viruses used to make the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Vaccines do not contain fetal cells. Novavax, however, says that “no human-derived human cell line or tissue was used” in the development, manufacture or production of its vaccine.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory last year, saying the shots were critical to maintaining military readiness and the strength of the force. Military leaders have argued that troops have been forced to get up to 17 vaccines for decades, especially for those being deployed overseas.
A group involved in lawsuits targeting the Army’s vaccine requirement said some opponents of the shot may see Novavax as an acceptable option.
“I definitely think it’s for some, but certainly not for everyone,” said Mike Berry, director of military affairs at the First Liberty Institute. “There are some for whom abortion is really the ultimate problem, and once that problem is resolved spiritually, they are willing.”
Berry added, however, that for others, abortion is “just a tangential problem” and they have broader opposition to vaccines as a whole. “One rudimentary way to look at it is that they have asked for God’s will and believe it would be wrong for them to get the vaccine,” Berry said. “In other words, they believe that God has told them no.”
Novavax may also appeal to people who are uncomfortable with the new genetics-based technology used in so-called Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines. They give genetic instructions for the body to make copies of the outer covering of the coronavirus, the ear protein.
The Novavax vaccine is made using more familiar technology, such as those used for years to prevent hepatitis B and shingles. It trains the body to fight the coronavirus by delivering copies of the outer coating that are cultured in insect cells, then purified and packaged into nanoparticles that look like a virus to the immune system, according to the Novavax Chief Research Officer, Dr. Gregory Glenn.
Although some religious groups oppose the shooting, when vaccines against VOCID-19 first began to be rolled out, the Vatican’s doctrine office called the options “morally acceptable” and Pope Francis , which has received vaccines from Pfizer, has strongly encouraged widespread vaccination.
Berry said he doesn’t know how many would consider Novavax acceptable, but he guessed it could be a small percentage. First Liberty Institute and the law firm Schaerr Jaffe LLP represent several Navy sailors in one lawsuit and nine aviators in another.
Military officials declined to publicly detail the nature of any member of the service’s religious exemption requests, but spoke on condition of anonymity to provide some descriptions. They said the most prevalent topic mentioned in the waiver requests is the remote link to fetal cell lines, while others argue that their body is a temple that must remain pure. Others, officials said, describe reasons that seem to have less to do with faith.
Berry said his firm carefully examines people for lawsuits, to make sure their objections are based on sincerely religious beliefs, rather than political opposition or other disguises of views based on faith.
The military cannot handle the Novavax shot now and will not pay for anyone traveling abroad to get it. But tens of thousands of U.S. forces are based in Europe, where Novavax is available.
Earlier this week, FDA advisers supported the Novavax vaccine. The FDA must then decide whether to authorize it. A final FDA decision is not expected immediately, as the agency has just reviewed the data.
Across the military, more than 5,000 members of the service have been discharged for rejecting the vaccine, according to the latest statistics provided by the services. Of those who called for religious exemptions, just over 100 have been approved.
In the lawsuit against the Navy, a Texas federal judge agreed that the case could continue as a class action and issued a preliminary injunction banning the service from taking action against sailors who opposed the vaccine on grounds. religious. Berry said the Justice Department has said it will appeal the ruling to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
At the request of the Air Force, Berry said, lawyers have called for it to be a class action as well and are asking for a temporary restraining order that would prevent the Air Force from taking any adverse action. The court has not yet ruled.
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AP medical writer Lauran Neergaard contributed to this report.