Real-world evaluation of 2023-2024 XBB.1.5 mRNA and protein-based COVID-19 vaccine reactogenicity from the randomized BEEHIVE trial.
Hum Vaccin ImmunotherSep 29, 2026 (epub)
Sarang K Yoon, Andrew L Phillips, Hongwei Zhao et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the reactogenicity of the 2023-2024 XBB.1.5 mRNA and protein-based COVID-19 vaccines in participants with prior mRNA vaccination. The study found that significantly fewer participants receiving the Novavax (NVX) vaccine reported systemic (62.1% vs 75.7%) and local (81.0% vs 92.7%) reactogenicity compared to those receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech (PFZ) vaccine.
Key findings
- 62.1% of NVX recipients reported systemic events compared to 75.7% of PFZ recipients.
- 81.0% of NVX recipients reported local events compared to 92.7% of PFZ recipients.
- The mean number of events per person was significantly lower for NVX in day-1 and day-2 surveys.
Why it matters
Understanding the reactogenicity profiles of different COVID-19 vaccines is crucial for informing vaccination strategies and patient counseling, particularly in populations with prior vaccine exposure.