Combination nasal spray vaccine could protect against COVID, flu and pneumonia at once
If translated to humans, a vaccine like this could replace “multiple jabs every year for seasonal respiratory infections and be on hand should a new pandemic virus emerge,” according to Pulendran.
“Imagine getting a nasal spray in the fall months that protects you from all respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and the common cold, as well as bacterial pneumonia and early spring allergens,” the researcher said. “That would transform medical practice.”
The preclinical trial in mice shows promise, as none of the vaccinated mice died from illness, the researchers shared. (iStock)
The results of the study suggest that the immune system can “be trained to mount a more generalized antiviral defense in the lungs,” Pulendran added.
The researcher acknowledged that the study has some limitations.
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It is a preclinical study conducted in animal models, making it an “important proof of concept rather than a finished human vaccine,” Pulendran said.
“While the results are encouraging, additional studies are needed to determine safety, optimal dosing and effectiveness in people,” he added.
The lead researcher predicted that with the necessary funding, the nasal spray vaccine could be available in five to seven years. (iStock)
This research should not change current medical advice, according to Pulendran, and the public should continue relying on approved vaccines and public health guidance.
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“Our goal is not to replace current vaccines, but to complement them by developing strategies that could provide an added layer of protection against a wide range of respiratory threats, including future pandemics,” Pulendran added. “Translation to humans will require careful clinical testing.”
The scientists’ next step will be to test the vaccine in humans. With sufficient funding, Pulendran predicts that the vaccine could be available in five to seven years.
The public should continue relying on available vaccinations, the researchers advise. (iStock)
Dr. Robert H. Hopkins, Jr., the Arkansas-based medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, confirmed that there has “long been interest” in developing universal vaccines.
Hopkins, who was not involved in the study, cautioned that the immune responses in mice are not identical to those in humans.
“This process is a fascinating concept, and the study is very interesting, but many additional steps need to be completed successfully and safely before this could be considered in humans,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“It will likely take many years, require significant financial investment and involve multiple additional studies before we know whether this particular universal vaccine candidate can be safely given to humans and whether it will provide similar protection against respiratory bacteria and viruses.”
The study received funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Violetta L. Horton Professor endowment, the Soffer Fund endowment and Open Philanthropy.
Article source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/combination-nasal-spray-vaccine-could-protect-against-covid-flu-pneumonia-once