Organization	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization	OrganizationNovavax, Inc. (“Novavax,” and together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, Novavax AB and Novavax CZ, the “Company”) is a biotechnology company that promotes improved global health through the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative vaccines to prevent serious infectious diseases and address urgent, global health needs. The Company’s vaccine candidates, including both its coronavirus vaccine candidate, NVX-CoV2373, and its lead influenza vaccine candidate, NanoFluTM, are genetically engineered, three-dimensional nanostructures of recombinant proteins critical to disease pathogenesis and may elicit differentiated immune responses, which may be more efficacious than naturally occurring immunity or traditional vaccines. NVX-CoV2373 and NanoFlu include the use of the Company's proprietary Matrix-M™ adjuvant.