South Korea to roll out Novavax Covid-19 vaccine next week

South Korea will begin offering Novavax Inc’s Covid-19 vaccine at hospitals, nursing homes and public health centres next week, officials said, adding another tool to fight a fast-developing omicron surge.

The country reported a record 54,122 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, a 12-fold increase from daily levels seen in mid-January, when omicron first became the country’s dominant strain.

But officials are expressing cautious hope that the country’s high vaccination rate will prevent an explosion in serious illnesses and deaths. As of Thursday, 86% of South Koreans were fully vaccinated and 56% had received booster shots.