Sanofi and 2026 NBA Champion Karl-Anthony Towns team up to raise awareness of COVID-19 vaccination with NUVAXOVID®

• The six-time NBA All-Star, three-time All-NBA selection, 2016 NBA Rookie of the Year, and 2026 NBA Champion Karl-Anthony Towns brings his personal experience with COVID-19 to encourage eligible people, especially those at increased risk, to learn about their vaccination options
• Towns shares why protecting his health remains a priority and encourages informed conversations about COVID-19 vaccination
• The campaign highlights NUVAXOVID, the only FDA-approved protein-based, non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine

MORRISTOWN, N.J., Oct. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanofi has partnered with 2026 NBA Champion Karl-Anthony Towns to help raise awareness about the importance of COVID-19 vaccination among those eligible during the respiratory season. Through a series of digital and social media activations, Towns will share his personal perspective on the impact COVID-19 had on his life and family, why protecting his health remains a priority, and encourage people to have informed conversations with their healthcare providers about COVID-19 vaccination options, including NUVAXOVID^® (COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted).

NUVAXOVID, the only FDA-approved protein-based, non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, is a vaccination option built on recombinant protein technology, a vaccine platform that has been used for years in certain modern flu vaccines.

As an elite athlete, Towns understands the importance of preparation, performance, and staying healthy. The campaign will help drive awareness about the continued risks of COVID-19, and the importance of making prevention a health priority. Education about different COVID-19 vaccination options is critical for increasing protection via vaccination rates.

"COVID-19 affected my family in a profound way and those experiences changed how I think about health and the importance of taking steps to help protect myself," said Karl-Anthony Towns. "With respiratory virus season fast approaching and preparing for the upcoming basketball season, being proactive about protecting my health remains a priority for me. That's why I'm partnering with Sanofi to encourage people, especially those at increased risk, to talk with their healthcare provider to learn about their COVID-19 vaccination options, including NUVAXOVID."

As COVID-19 continues to circulate year-round, older adults and individuals with certain underlying medical conditions remain at increased risk for severe illness, hospitalization, and complications associated with the virus.

NUVAXOVID is approved for use in adults 65 years of age and older, and individuals 12 through 64 years of age with at least one underlying condition that puts them at high risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes. In clinical studies, the most common side effects were generally mild to moderate and would not prevent daily activities, according to FDA grading.

"Karl-Anthony brings an authentic and deeply personal perspective to raising awareness about COVID-19 vaccination," said Kimberly Tutwiler, Head of Vaccines, North America at Sanofi. "At a time when many eligible people remain unvaccinated, helping people better understand their available vaccination options remains an important public health priority. We're proud to partner with Karl-Anthony to encourage informed conversations about COVID-19 vaccination and help people understand the options available to them, including NUVAXOVID."

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about if NUVAXOVID may be right for you. Visit NUVAXOVID.com for more information and to find where you can get a vaccine near you.
Karl-Anthony Towns is a paid spokesperson for Sanofi.

About NUVAXOVID
NUVAXOVID is a protein-based, adjuvanted vaccine for active immunization to prevent COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2. It is developed using recombinant technology, an established platform used for years in certain modern flu vaccines.

Having multiple vaccine options is important for sustainable public health strategies. Nuvaxovid is a protein-based vaccine option that healthcare systems and retail pharmacies can add to their seasonal vaccination programs. Offering a range of vaccine types might aid healthcare systems in addressing vaccine hesitancy.

NUVAXOVID was originally licensed by Novavax. Sanofi is now market authorization holder for NUVAXOVID in the US, the EU and the United Kingdom. Building on its commercial launch in the US, Taiwan, and Morocco in 2025, Sanofi is expanding NUVAXOVID's availability to additional markets - including the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada - from 2026 onwards.

Indication

NUVAXOVID is a vaccine to protect against COVID-19 for people who are:

• 65 years of age and older, or
• 12 years through 64 years of age at high risk for severe COVID-19

Vaccination with NUVAXOVID may not protect all people who receive the vaccine.

NUVAXOVID does not contain SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. NUVAXOVID cannot give you or your child COVID-19.

Important Safety Information

You or your child should not get NUVAXOVID if you had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of NUVAXOVID or to any of its ingredients.

There is a remote chance that the vaccine could cause a severe allergic reaction, which would usually occur within a few minutes to one hour after getting a dose. For this reason, the vaccination provider may ask you or your child to stay at the place where you or your child received the vaccine for monitoring after vaccination. Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include: difficulty breathing, swelling of the face and throat, a fast heartbeat, a bad rash all over the body and/or dizziness and weakness.

Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside the heart) have occurred in some people who have received NUVAXOVID. The chance of having this occur is very low. You should seek medical attention right away if you or your child have any of the following symptoms after receiving the vaccine: chest pain; shortness of breath; feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering, or pounding heart.

Other side effects reported in clinical trials and/or post-approval use of NUVAXOVID include: Injection site reactions (pain/tenderness, swelling, redness and itching), fatigue or generally feeling unwell, muscle pain, headache, joint pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, allergic reactions such as hives and swelling of the face, swollen lymph nodes, paresthesia (unusual feeling in the skin such as tingling or a crawling feeling), and hypoesthesia (decreased feeling or sensitivity, especially in the skin).

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information, for more details. 

About COVID-19
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Most people infected with the virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. However, some will become seriously ill resulting in hospitalization and death.

The disease not only causes immediate health impacts but also increases the long-term risk of cardiovascular complications, including heart attacks and strokes, and older adults hospitalized for COVID-19 face substantially higher mortality risk than those hospitalized for influenza. Older adults and those with chronic conditions - including cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes, and obesity - face the highest risk of severe illness. In the US, an estimated 74% of adults have at least one such risk factor, underscoring the scale of the vulnerable population that stands to benefit from effective and well-tolerated COVID-19 vaccination.

MAT-US-2610953 -v1.0-09/2026

About Sanofi
Sanofi is an R&D driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people's lives and delivering compelling growth. We apply our deep understanding of the immune system to invent medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions of people around the world, with an innovative pipeline that could benefit millions more. Our team is guided by one purpose: we chase the miracles of science to improve people's lives; this inspires us to drive progress and deliver positive impact for our people and the communities we serve, by addressing the most urgent healthcare, environmental, and societal challenges of our time.
Sanofi is listed on EURONEXT: SAN andNASDAQ: SNY

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SOURCE Sanofi