Sweden has procured Novavax (distributed by Sanofi) as its sole COVID-19 vaccine for the 2027/2028 season, effectively moving away from mRNA platforms. Sweden is the first country in the world to make this exclusive shift. Reasoning for the Change: The Swedish government favored Nuvaxovid because it relies on traditional, well-established protein technology (similar to long-standing vaccines for Hepatitis B and HPV) and offers easier storage and handling requirements compared to mRNA vaccines. Policy Adjustments for Younger Groups: Sweden previously advised against using Nuvaxovid for people under 30 due to historical concerns over myocarditis and pericarditis. However, representatives from the Public Health Agency (Folkhälsomyndigheten) stated that those specific heart inflammation concerns are no longer viewed the same way. The agency has lifted the age restriction well ahead of the Autumn 2027 rollout so the vaccine can be used broadly across eligible groups There are strong hints regarding which countries might follow. Japan is the most likely candidate to heavily favor @Novavax or heavily reduce its reliance on mRNA. Under the commercial leadership of Takeda, Nuvaxovid successfully climbed to become the second-most used COVID-19 vaccine in the country during the 2025–2026 season. Given the strong public infrastructure already established by Takeda for protein-based distribution, Japan remains a prime market for continuous non-mRNA adoption. Germany and Canada: Public health agencies in these regions are actively framing @Novavax not just as a "niche backup" for people who refuse mRNA, but as a mainstream, peer-level choice for standard autumn booster campaigns. Historically, the Nordic cluster (Denmark, Norway, and Finland) acts in close coordination with Sweden regarding vaccine logistics, safety assessments, and procurement. When Sweden paused Moderna for youth in 2021, the neighboring Nordic nations instituted nearly identical policies within days. Because Sweden’s Public Health Agency cited simpler storage requirements and a highly stable, well-understood traditional technology as major drivers, its neighbors are under close scrutiny to see if they will share the same procurement preferences. lakemedelsvarlden.se/myndigh… $NVAX $mrna $SNY