FDA Authorizes Novavax’s Updated Covid Vaccine for Fall Rollout

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized Novavax’s updated protein-based Covid vaccine for emergency use in individuals aged 12 and older. This move clears the way for the vaccine to compete with Pfizer and Moderna’s shots in the upcoming fall and winter seasons.

The newly authorized Novavax vaccine targets the Omicron subvariant JN.1, which was prevalent in the U.S. earlier in the year, though it currently only accounts for 0.2% of cases. Despite the variant’s decline, Novavax assures that their vaccine provides robust protection against related strains that are now more dominant in the U.S., including KP.2.3, KP.3, KP.3.1.1, and LB.1.

Unlike the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, which can be rapidly updated, Novavax’s vaccine uses protein-based technology, a tried-and-tested method used in other vaccines like those for hepatitis B and shingles. This makes it an attractive alternative for individuals seeking non-mRNA options.

“We expect our updated vaccine to be broadly available across thousands of U.S. locations, including retail and independent pharmacies as well as regional grocers,” said Novavax CEO John Jacobs in a statement. The news boosted Novavax’s shares by over 8%.

This FDA approval follows last week’s green light for new mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, which target a different offshoot of JN.1 called KP.2. Public health officials see the Novavax shot as a valuable option for those hesitant to use the newer mRNA technology.

However, it’s uncertain how many Americans will seek the new vaccines this fall, given that only around 22.5% of U.S. adults received the latest Covid boosters that were released last year.

Amazon Checkout Glitch Disrupts Labor Day Sale

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Amazon’s checkout process faced a significant technical snag on Friday, leaving customers unable to complete their purchases during the highly anticipated Labor Day sale. The website displayed error messages featuring images of dogs, a familiar indicator of Amazon’s system issues, sparking frustration among shoppers and numerous posts on social media.

Despite the checkout problems, Amazon Web Services (AWS), which powers much of the e-commerce giant’s infrastructure, did not report any outages. Typically, AWS disruptions can cause widespread internet issues due to its vast number of clients, but in this case, the problem appeared to be isolated to Amazon’s checkout system.

An Amazon spokesperson has yet to provide an official statement regarding the outage.

The technical hiccup hit during a crucial time for Amazon, as it had begun promoting significant discounts ahead of the U.S. Labor Day weekend. However, customers looking to take advantage of these deals were left unable to finalize their purchases. Amazon’s Help account on the X platform recommended that users contact customer support for assistance.

Such incidents have the potential to negatively affect sales and customer perceptions of Amazon’s services, an issue the company has previously flagged to investors. Despite this, Amazon reported strong sales in the second quarter of 2024, totaling nearly $148 billion.

Mexican Drug Lord Who Founded Zetas Released from U.S. Prison

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Osiel Cardenas, the notorious Mexican drug lord who founded the ultra-violent Zetas cartel, has been released from a U.S. prison after serving over a decade behind bars. Initially captured in 2003 and extradited to the United States in 2007, Cardenas was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2010.

The Zetas, once an enforcement arm of Cardenas’ Gulf Cartel, became one of the most feared and violent crime syndicates in Mexico, notorious for their brutal methods. Although their influence has waned in recent years, the group was largely responsible for escalating violence, extortion, and kidnapping for ransom across Mexico.

Cardenas was released into the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Friday, though it remains unclear whether he will be deported to Mexico or remain in U.S. custody. According to a U.S. official cited by NBC, the Biden administration is expected to hand Cardenas over to Mexico, where he faces outstanding charges.

Leo Silva, a former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent who fought against the Zetas, noted that Cardenas was a key figure behind the rise in gruesome violence across Mexico. “He unleashed this mentality of creating fear in the country,” Silva said, referencing Cardenas’ role in expanding organized crime’s reach beyond drug trafficking to extortion and terrorizing communities.

Cardenas is currently being held in a U.S. immigration detention center, pending a final decision on his fate.