'Nasal sprays and oral doses': WHO looking forward to second generation of COVID-19 vaccines
nasal spray vaccine (representative image)
The World Health Organization's chief scientist expressed excitement about the "second generation" of COVID-19 vaccinations, which might include nasal sprays and oral forms, on Tuesday.
According to Soumya Swaminathan, such vaccines might offer benefits over the current crop since they would be easier to give than injections and could potentially be self-administered.
Also read | 'People’s war': Now, Chinese city offers cash for coronavirus clues
According to Swaminathan, 129 distinct candidate vaccines have proceeded to clinical trials (being tested on humans), while a further 194 are not yet that far along in their research and are still being worked on in laboratories.
Watch | Covid Vaccine Updates: India's indigenous vaccine Covaxin approved for Emergency use by WHO
"This covers the entire range of technologies," she told a live interaction on WHO social media channels.
"They're still in development. I'm sure some of them will prove to be very safe and efficacious, while others may not.
"There could be advantages to some of the second generation vaccines... clearly, if you have an oral vaccine or an intra-nasal vaccine, this is easier to deliver than an injectable.
)
India bolsters 'chicken's neck' defences amid Pakistan's engagement with Bangladesh
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
6 ancient civilisations that were far more advanced than we think
)
Comet fragment travelling at 81,000 km/hr explodes over Portugal, a second one recorded nearby
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Golden disaster: 5 biggest Gold price crashes that shook global markets
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Top 10 fastest trains in the world in 2025
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
White gold vs yellow gold: comparing price, purity, and popularity
)
NASA database shows 3I/ATLAS suddenly sped up, changed path after perihelion: Report
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
10 most secure military bases in the world
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Global electricity consumption: Top 10 countries with highest electricity consumption
"Ultimately, we'll be able to choose the ones that are most appropriate.
"If not for COVID-19, we're going to use these platforms for other infections in the future."
Swaminathan discussed the benefits of a vaccine being sprayed into the nose, as is done in several countries with influenza vaccinations.
She explained that if there is a local immune response, it will take care of the virus before it travels and establishes itself in the lungs and begins producing a problem.
Only seven COVID-19 vaccines have received emergency use authorization from the WHO: those developed by Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Sinopharm, Sinovac, and, most recently, Bharat Biotech.
(With inputs from agencies)