Scientists in Germany say they've made a nasal vaccine that can shut down Covid-19 infections before the virus takes hold. The vaccine is made with a live but weakened form of the coronavirus, which closely mimics the natural process of infection.
In hamster studies, two doses of the vaccine proved to be highly effective, blocking the virus from copying itself in the animals' upper airways and achieving "sterilizing immunity" – preventing illness. This approach is promising, as it aims to boost mucosal immunity by boosting immune defenses in the tissues that line the upper airways.
The nasal vaccine was tested on hamsters infected with the original strain of Covid-19, but not Omicron. While it performed well against the original strain, its ability to neutralize Omicron was reduced. The researchers are now working on an update for the vaccine to tackle the new variant.
Other nasal vaccines are already in use or nearing completion in clinical trials. These include those from China and India, which rely on harmless adenoviruses to ferry their instructions into cells. However, effectiveness data for these vaccines has not been published yet.
The US is experiencing a "stalemate" with Covid-19, with hundreds of Americans still dying daily despite the pandemic's dark days being behind them. The virus continues to spread among people and animals, posing a danger to vulnerable groups such as the elderly and immunocompromised.
Researchers hope that next-generation Covid-19 vaccines could make the respiratory infection less of a threat by boosting mucosal immunity. These vaccines aim to shut down the virus before it makes us sick, ultimately preventing its spread.
One scientist, Emanuel Wyler, describes the nasal vaccine's approach as "bit like stationing firefighters underneath the smoke alarm in your house." The vaccine works by mimicking the natural process of infection and boosting immune defenses in the upper airways.
However, experts caution that more testing is needed before this vaccine can be widely used. Dr. Greg Poland from the Mayo Clinic notes that while the results are promising, there's still much to be done – including repetition of the study in primates and humans.
In fact, there are already at least four nasal vaccines for Covid-19 in late-stage testing in people, according to the World Health Organization's vaccine tracker. These include those from Codagenix, which uses a live but weakened version of the virus similar to the German-developed vaccine.
While some experts see this approach as promising, others have concerns about its effectiveness and safety, particularly for vulnerable populations like those with compromised immunity.
In hamster studies, two doses of the vaccine proved to be highly effective, blocking the virus from copying itself in the animals' upper airways and achieving "sterilizing immunity" – preventing illness. This approach is promising, as it aims to boost mucosal immunity by boosting immune defenses in the tissues that line the upper airways.
The nasal vaccine was tested on hamsters infected with the original strain of Covid-19, but not Omicron. While it performed well against the original strain, its ability to neutralize Omicron was reduced. The researchers are now working on an update for the vaccine to tackle the new variant.
Other nasal vaccines are already in use or nearing completion in clinical trials. These include those from China and India, which rely on harmless adenoviruses to ferry their instructions into cells. However, effectiveness data for these vaccines has not been published yet.
The US is experiencing a "stalemate" with Covid-19, with hundreds of Americans still dying daily despite the pandemic's dark days being behind them. The virus continues to spread among people and animals, posing a danger to vulnerable groups such as the elderly and immunocompromised.
Researchers hope that next-generation Covid-19 vaccines could make the respiratory infection less of a threat by boosting mucosal immunity. These vaccines aim to shut down the virus before it makes us sick, ultimately preventing its spread.
One scientist, Emanuel Wyler, describes the nasal vaccine's approach as "bit like stationing firefighters underneath the smoke alarm in your house." The vaccine works by mimicking the natural process of infection and boosting immune defenses in the upper airways.
However, experts caution that more testing is needed before this vaccine can be widely used. Dr. Greg Poland from the Mayo Clinic notes that while the results are promising, there's still much to be done – including repetition of the study in primates and humans.
In fact, there are already at least four nasal vaccines for Covid-19 in late-stage testing in people, according to the World Health Organization's vaccine tracker. These include those from Codagenix, which uses a live but weakened version of the virus similar to the German-developed vaccine.
While some experts see this approach as promising, others have concerns about its effectiveness and safety, particularly for vulnerable populations like those with compromised immunity.
, but I think we gotta keep things in perspective 
. It's promising that it can shut down Covid-19 infections before they take hold, especially since it's a live but weakened form of the virus 
. The fact that it performed well against the original strain is awesome, but we do need to see more data on Omicron 
.
. I mean, we can't just rush into using this vaccine without making sure it's safe for everyone 
. And what about those with compromised immunity? We need to make sure they're protected too 
.
. It'll be cool to see which ones come out on top and how effective they are 
. But for now, let's just say I'm keeping an eye on this development 
.
... First off, I'm not sure why they're even testing it on hamsters 
. Like, don't get me wrong, I love the idea of a nasal vaccine, but can we please try this in humans first? 
And what's up with the Omicron variant? You'd think that would be the priority 
.
Can't they just get it right on the first try? This is all so frustrating 
... I get what he's saying, but isn't that just a bit of an oversimplification? 
up! Scientists are getting close to creating a game-changer that could prevent Covid-19 infections before they even start 
. Boosting mucosal immunity is key 
and if this vaccine works, it could be a huge win for public health 
.
and it's not clear how effective the current vaccine will be against that 
. More testing is needed before we can get our hopes up 
about this new vaccine.
, especially from China and India 
. It'll be interesting to see how these work out in real-world scenarios 
and I'm excited to see where it goes from here 
!
Oh no, it's still so sad that hundreds of Americans are dying daily from Covid-19 
. I can imagine how frustrating it must be for the scientists working on this new nasal vaccine, knowing they're still not able to fully stop the spread of the virus 
. However, it's also super important for experts to keep pushing for more testing and caution, especially when it comes to vulnerable populations 
it's like finally something that can actually prevent covid-19 from taking hold 
We can't just build a vaccine for one strain of the virus and expect it to work against others. That's like building a house on shaky ground 
.
. They're trying to rush out another COVID-19 vaccine without fully testing it on humans? I don't trust it. What's the real motive behind this nasal vaccine? Is it just to boost mucosal immunity or is there a more sinister plan at play? 
. And what's up with the lack of information on Omicron variants? Are they trying to keep something from us? 
, and if these vaccines work, we could make respiratory infections a thing of the past 
.
hundreds ppl dyin daily in the US & it's still spreadin among ppl & animals what a mess! but yeah, hopefully these new vaccines can boost mucosal immunity & make Covid less of a threat 
! But I'm also getting some concerns about Omicron, which was a major issue for many vaccines 
. Anyways, I'm keeping an eye on these developments and hoping we get some effective updates soon 
! Did you know that 70% of people who got Covid-19 are now considered immune? That's a huge stat! 
just when we thought things were looking up, scientists are working on another game-changer! a nasal vaccine that can actually stop Covid-19 from taking hold? sounds like science fiction, but apparently it's real! 
Yeah, let's not forget that 
. I'm all for innovation, but safety should always be the top priority 
? Next thing you know they'll be creating vaccines that make us allergic to our own bodies 
.
. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's awesome that scientists are working on something promising, but isn't it also time to start thinking about accountability for the lack of progress so far? Shouldn't there be more urgency around getting these vaccines out to the masses ASAP? 
️