Novavax took longer, because the protein has to be separated from the liquids in the bioreactors that manufacture it. The vaccine protein is just a genetically engineered COVID-19 spike protein. And just how did Novavax manufacture its vaccine? They created an mRNA segment that coded for the spike protein and got moth cells to take it up and start producing spike protein. It’s the same mechanism used by the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, except that there is no need for extracting spike protein that is already in the body. I seriously doubt you would want moth proteins that could cause allergic reactions to be in the Novavax vaccine. It’s the purification processes that traditionally have slowed down the development of protein vaccines. If you’re over 45 or so or in a high comorbidity group, you were much better off getting an mRNA vaccine in 2021 than waiting for the Novavax vaccine in mid-2022. It will be interesting to see the safety profile of this vaccine in younger age groups. The Hepatitis B vaccine that has been in use since the mid-1980’s is a protein vaccine and is used in newborns to prevent the transmission of Hepatitis B from mother to child due to exposure to the mother’s blood during childbirth. It is standard procedure in the US to vaccinate newborns just after birth regardless of the Hepatitis B status of the mother.
I'm more worried about the tree proteins. I really don't see myself as someone standing around trying to generate chlorophyll.