Work Begins On Single-Dose Nasal Coronavirus Vaccine

UHS vice chancellor Akram says the university has started developing protocols for the clinical trial of the nasal vaccine; Sindh tightens curbs as cases spike; education minister tests positive

- Tariq Butt

ISLAMABAD

The University of Health Sciences (UHS) has started working on protocols to start trials for nasal COVID-19 vaccine as only four million people have been fully or partially inoculated across Pakistan.

It will be a single-dose vaccine, which does not require a syringe. It is hoped the clinical trial will commence in six to eight weeks after approval from three committees is obtained.

The UHS Vice-Chancellor Dr Javed Akram said the university has started developing protocols for the clinical trial of the nasal vaccine. “The vaccine will be single dose and has been manufactured by the Cansino Biologics whose single-dose injectable vaccine is already being used in Pakistan. Nasal vaccines are usually given to children but there will be no age limit for it and it can be administered to both children and adults,” he said.

The vaccine will be capable of generating an immune response at the site of the infection and within the respiratory passage. Though children are less affected by coronavirus, they are a major source of spreading the virus, therefore the vaccine will be helpful in creating herd immunity.