Feds Award Novavax $1.6 Billion to Speed Up Virus Vaccine

The federal government has provided significant funding to accelerate COVID-19 vaccine testing and manufacturing, marking the largest award by the Trump Administration's Vaccine Development Initiative, Operation Warp Speed. The NovaVax vaccine, which uses coronavirus fragments to trigger an immune response, aims to deliver 100 million doses by January 2021. Despite not being listed among Operation Warp Speed finalists, NovaVax received unexpected funding, raising questions due to its lack of market history.

What is the significance of Operation Warp Speed in the context of the vaccine development?

What was surprising about NOVAKS funding according to the text?