China approves Nasal Spray Vaccine for the FIRST Time! How does it work? Details

China has approved trials for the first nasal spray vaccine to fight the novel coronavirus outbreak. China’s only nasal spray vaccine is likely to enter the first phase of trials in the month of November and the country is currently recruiting around 100 volunteers. This is the only vaccine of this kind that has been approved by China’s National Medical Products Administration. 

The vaccine was developed at Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland by researchers from the University of Hong Kong, Xiamen University, and Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy. 

Microbiologist from the University of Hong Kong, Yuen Kwok-yung, stated that  the vaccine stimulates the natural infection pathway of respiratory viruses and thus activates the immune response.

According to experts, nasal spray vaccination is likely to generate double protection for recipients of vaccine.

A Beijing-based immunologist told the daily that in comparison to injections, nasal spray vaccination will be easier to administer to volunteers and even the mass production as well as distribution will be easier in the case of a nasal spray vaccine unlike normal vaccines. 

]ay not cause systemic side effects, but side effects may occur in the respiratory system such as asthma and shortness of breath. Ideally, scientists do not expect side effects except for minor nasal obstruction or rhinorrhea, Yuen said. It is not yet clear whether immunity generated from nasal spray vaccinations will last longer than for injected vaccines,” Financial Times cited the daily’s report.