Bharat Biotech working on Nasal Vaccine for Coronavirus
Intranasal vaccine may be introduced in India soon. Bharat Biotech, a Hyderabad-based company that manufactures Covaxin, is also making this vaccine. It has been successful on animals in the laboratory. To examine whether this vaccine is safe for humans, the Expert Committee of India’s Drug Regulator has approved Bharat Biotech for Phase-1 clinical trials.
The scientific community is very happy with the recommendation to try this vaccine on humans. Doctors say that this vaccine will block the way of coronavirus in the body. The vaccine will be sprayed into your nose with a small needle syringe. Its effect will start in two weeks and it can be given to children easily. Let us know what is a nasal vaccine and how it is more beneficial than the existing vaccine?
What is a nasal vaccine?
Just as a muscle injected vaccine is called an intramuscular vaccine, similarly a vaccine given by a few drops in the nose is called an intranasal vaccine. It is like a nasal spray.
The good thing is that it does not need to be given by injection. There is no oral vaccine. In simple terms, this vaccine protects the place from where the coronavirus infiltrates the body and stops it. The effect is quick and effective.
How does this nasal vaccine work and what are its benefits?
Many microbes , including coronaviruses, enter the body via mucus (a wet, sticky substance that occurs in the nose, mouth, lungs, and digestive system) membrane. The nasal vaccine produces immune response directly in this.
At present, two doses of vaccine are being given in India at a difference of 28 days. The effect also starts 14 days after the second dose. In such a situation, the nasal vaccine starts showing effect in 14 days.
Effective nasal doses will not only protect against coronavirus, but will also prevent the spread of disease. Mild symptoms will not be seen in the patient. The virus will also not harm other parts of the body. The rapid effect of the nasal vaccine in preventing the rapid spread of coronavirus in western countries may prove to be a game changer.
This is a single dose vaccine, so tracking is easy. Its side effects are also less compared to intramuscular vaccine. Another major advantage of this is that the waste of the needle and syringe will also be reduced.
What is Bharat Biotech’s nasal vaccine?
Bharat Biotech signed an agreement with the US University of Washington School of Medicine (WUSM) for the vaccine in September. The pre-clinical trials of this single dose vaccine BBV154 have been conducted in India and the United States. That is, it has been highly successful in laboratory on mice and other animals.
Phase-I of clinical trials on humans may begin in February. If all goes well, by June this vaccine will complete clinical trials. Then it is likely to be available in the market by August.
