US government advisers have recommended the approval of a fourth Covid-19 jab developed by Novavax, expressing hopes that it can help boost the nation’s flagging immunisation programme as a new wave of infections sweeps across the population.

Scientists on a US Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly in favour of authorising the first protein-based Covid vaccine — a type of technology that has been used for decades against diseases including shingles and the flu.

Some healthcare experts believe the vaccine could win over vaccine sceptics who have so far resisted getting jabs. Anti-vaccine campaigners have taken aim at shots developed by BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna, despite their effectiveness, over their use of mRNA, a new technology.