Another big difference between Novavax and the mRNA vaccines is that Novavax uses an adjuvant called Matrix-M made from the soapbark tree to enhance the immune response to the vaccine. This adjuvant induces early activation of innate immune cells at the injection site and in the draining lymph nodes ( https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645515.2023.2189885 ). H/T: @paulseaman31 4/