Getting vaccinated against Covid may soon become a thing of the past, and researchers are one step closer to an “inhaled” vaccine.
Scientists at Pennsylvania State University have already tested it in mice and said the results are “encouraging”.
Rodents given two doses of the so-called “airgel” had more antibodies in their lungs, nose and throat than those given the fake vaccine.
The researchers hope that the method of targeted antibody response will be able to neutralize Covid at the time of infection.
They hope that the new technology, which can also be used against influenza, can prevent infection.
This is because it goes straight to the lungs, unlike current Covid shots, which do little to stop transmission.
Today’s article brings scientists one step closer to having an inhaled Covid vaccine. Pennsylvania State University scientists said the results of the mouse trials are “encouraging”. The image above shows trials of a single breathable vaccine being developed at McMaster University, Canada.
Scientists at Pennsylvania State University said their vaccine (top right) is meant to be sprayed into the nose. It will then be taken up by the immune cells lining the airways. Once this is done, they will start making Covid spike proteins, which will lead to an immune response.
Studies show that 10% of unvaccinated people do not get vaccinated due to a fear of needles, known as trypanophobia.
In addition to inhaled drugs, vaccinologists have also considered introducing this technology into digestive tablets.
Human trials of the vaccine must be done before it is deployed, meaning it could be years before a vaccine is introduced.
What is trypanophobia?
Trypanophobia is an extreme fear of needles.
While many people do not look forward to medical tests or treatment using syringes or injections, trypanophobia sufferers experience such intense fear that it can lead them to avoid medical procedures entirely.
This can lead people to refuse vaccinations, have a panic attack or even faint at the prospect of a blood test.
How many people in the UK have trypanophobia?
The true number of people with the phobia is unknown, but the charity Anxiety UK estimates that between 3.5 and 10 percent of the population has some form of trypanophobia.
What causes fear?
Childhood experiences of vaccination or watching a partner, parent, or grandparent undergo medical tests are thought to be behind the phobia.
What should I do if I am afraid of injections?
First, you should let the healthcare professionals know as they can do a lot of things to help you feel more comfortable.
There are also a number of methods, such as breathing exercises and cognitive behavioral therapy, that can help people cope with their phobia.
Penn State’s CoMiP nasal spray targets alveolar macrophages — immune cells in the throat and lungs that engulf bacteria, viruses, and cell debris.
Once they ingest the vaccine, they begin to produce spike proteins from the virus.
This is detected by the immune system, which allows it to recognize the pathogen in the future.
The inhaled vaccine contains tiny pieces of genetic instructions that are delivered to respiratory cells and teach them to recognize Covid.
The results of the spray on mice given two nasal doses two weeks apart have been published in the journal Biomacromolecules.
Antibody levels in blood were measured 14 and 28 days after the first dose and in lung fluid one month after the first injection.
Dr. Scott Medina, senior author of the study, said: “We have seen an increase in antibodies in the lungs that may offer some protection.
“But it wasn’t to the extent that we would have liked.
“This is encouraging data, but there is still a lot to be optimized.”
Another researcher, Atip Lavanprasert, said: “There are many potential benefits of an inhaled drug over an injectable vaccine.
One of them is to avoid needles. Inhaled vaccines can help increase vaccination rates because many people are afraid of injections.
“No matter how effective a vaccine is, if people don’t get it, then it’s useless.”
Dr. Girish Kirimandjeswara, also involved in the study, added: “Existing vaccines are not very good at preventing transmission.
“They allow the virus (SARS-CoV-2) to multiply in the body even for a short period of time and then be transmitted to other people.”
Several inhaled Covid shots are already in development, including one at McMaster University, Canada, which is in its first phase of human trials.
A separate spray developed at Queen Mary University of London was 63% effective in blocking infections when tested on 700 healthcare workers in India during the country’s delta wave.
The AstraZeneca Covid shot is also being tested in liquid form on 42 people in the UK to see if it can work without an injection.
Each year, the US National Health Service releases an inhaled flu vaccine for children ages two through 11.
It is injected into both nostrils, and children under 9 are offered two doses. Doctors say this offers the age group the “best possible protection” against the virus.