Scientists in Germany have made significant progress in developing a nasal vaccine that can prevent Covid-19 infections by targeting the virus in the upper airways. The new vaccine uses a live but weakened form of the coronavirus and has shown promising results in hamster studies, achieving "sterilizing immunity" and preventing illness.
In these early experiments, two doses of the vaccine successfully blocked the virus from copying itself in the animals' upper airways, effectively stopping the infection. This approach is different from traditional vaccines that focus on stimulating an immune response throughout the body, but rather aims to boost mucosal immunity, which provides protection against infections at the site where the virus enters the body.
The researchers behind this vaccine believe that by mimicking the natural process of a Covid-19 infection in the nose and throat, they can create a more effective and long-lasting defense. The nasal vaccine also previews the entire coronavirus for the body, allowing the hamsters to make immune weapons against a wider range of targets.
However, experts caution that this vaccine still needs to undergo further testing before it is ready for human use. Dr. Greg Poland, who designs vaccines at the Mayo Clinic, noted that while the results look encouraging, more work is needed to ensure the vaccine's safety and efficacy in humans.
There are currently multiple nasal vaccines in various stages of development, with some already reaching late-stage testing in people. However, experts worry that respiratory infections may prove difficult targets for inhaled vaccines due to factors such as adult immune memory and limited effectiveness in certain populations.
The approach used by the German researchers is promising, but it also comes with concerns about its safety and accessibility. Live attenuated viruses can pose risks to individuals with compromised immunity, making careful consideration essential before widespread use.
Despite these challenges, the potential of this vaccine and other nasal approaches cannot be overstated. If successful, they could provide an additional layer of protection against Covid-19 infections, particularly in vulnerable populations such as the elderly and immunocompromised individuals.
In these early experiments, two doses of the vaccine successfully blocked the virus from copying itself in the animals' upper airways, effectively stopping the infection. This approach is different from traditional vaccines that focus on stimulating an immune response throughout the body, but rather aims to boost mucosal immunity, which provides protection against infections at the site where the virus enters the body.
The researchers behind this vaccine believe that by mimicking the natural process of a Covid-19 infection in the nose and throat, they can create a more effective and long-lasting defense. The nasal vaccine also previews the entire coronavirus for the body, allowing the hamsters to make immune weapons against a wider range of targets.
However, experts caution that this vaccine still needs to undergo further testing before it is ready for human use. Dr. Greg Poland, who designs vaccines at the Mayo Clinic, noted that while the results look encouraging, more work is needed to ensure the vaccine's safety and efficacy in humans.
There are currently multiple nasal vaccines in various stages of development, with some already reaching late-stage testing in people. However, experts worry that respiratory infections may prove difficult targets for inhaled vaccines due to factors such as adult immune memory and limited effectiveness in certain populations.
The approach used by the German researchers is promising, but it also comes with concerns about its safety and accessibility. Live attenuated viruses can pose risks to individuals with compromised immunity, making careful consideration essential before widespread use.
Despite these challenges, the potential of this vaccine and other nasal approaches cannot be overstated. If successful, they could provide an additional layer of protection against Covid-19 infections, particularly in vulnerable populations such as the elderly and immunocompromised individuals.
! its so cool dat it targets the virus in the upper airways like that. i mean, who needs a shot in the arm wen u can just sniff it in? LOL jus kidding, but seriously, its great dat researchers are tryin to find ways 2 prevent covid-19 without havin 2 take a lot of meds or gettin all sick. dey r makin progress and its awesome! lets hope it gets tested properly nd we cn start usin it soon 
so if they can actually get this thing to work on humans its gonna save a ton of lives 
i mean we all know covid's been a nightmare but imagine being able to just sniff out the virus before it even takes hold 
sounds crazy but i guess that's what these scientists are trying to do right? 
which makes total sense since that's where covid usually gets in. also its cool that it can make immune weapons against a wider range of targets 
especially the elderly and those with compromised immunity. we can't afford to have another vaccine like the one from last year that didn't quite pan out 
. What if they don't completely inactivate the virus? And how will we ensure that vulnerable populations can access this vaccine without issues? We need more data on those fronts before we get too excited 
. Still, it's promising to see progress being made, and I'm all for exploring new options 
.
I mean, we're always talking about how our immune systems are like superheroes that save us from harm, but what if this vaccine is actually teaching them how to do their job in the first place? 
It raises questions about our own biology and how we respond to threats. What does it say about us as a species that we need a vaccine that can mimic the very thing that's trying to harm us? It's like, have we become so reliant on protection that we've forgotten how to defend ourselves naturally? 
. I mean, using a live but weakened virus sounds kinda sketchy to me. What if it somehow doesn't work for everyone or even causes more problems than it solves? And have you seen the prices these vaccines are gonna cost? Who's gonna be able to afford 'em?! Plus, what about all the side effects we're still dealing with now... I just don't wanna rush into this without seeing a ton more data 
.
... and it's not like they're injecting a full-on virus into ur body 
. just a weakened form. that's still way better than nothing 
. and think about all the people who can't even get a traditional vaccine due to their health 
. this could be a lifesaver for them 
. anyway, more testing is always good, but let's not knock it till it's outta the park 
️
. I mean, we're still talking live viruses here, which can be super unpredictable, especially for people with weakened immune systems 
. They say it's promising, but I think they're just being optimistic 
. I'd need to see some serious proof before I'm willing to get on board with something that could potentially cause more problems than it solves 
. Can we please just wait and see how this one plays out? 
I just wish they'd work out some way to make these more accessible to people who can't afford 'em or have trouble getting shots at their local health center. Like, what's the point of having a vaccine that's "sterilizing" if it's just gonna be out of reach for some folks? 
. The idea of boosting mucosal immunity is so cool, I mean we've been focusing on traditional vaccines that try to tackle the whole body, but this one just targets the weak spot – the nose and throat 
.
. And the fact that it previews the entire coronavirus for the body is mind blown 
.
.
, have you seen the state of this forum lately? Like, can't we just get a decent layout or something? 
I'm trying to read this article about a new Covid-19 vaccine and my eyes are getting squinted from all the annoying ads on the side 
. Can't they just keep it clean for once? 
.
. Like, yeah, I get it, we need to test this stuff before we start giving it out to people 