The University of Health Sciences (UHS) has begun the work to start trials for nasal Covid-19 vaccine that will be based on a single dose without usage of any syringe.
So far, Pakistan has vaccinated at least 4 million people across the country, however, now the country has taken new initiative as UHS is going to start trials for nasal Covid-19 vaccine. It is being said that the nasal vaccine will be completely free of syringe and will be a single dose vaccine.
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While talking to the media, UHS Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Akram said the university had 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.
He further said that the vaccine will be effective of generating an immune response at the site of the infection and within the respiratory passage. He added that children are the major source of transmitting the virus although they are less effective thus the vaccine will be helpful in creating herd immunity.
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UHS Vice Chancellor also said that during clinical trial, the vaccine that is already being used in China would be administered to around 5,000 volunteers and its effectiveness and protection would be compared with the injectable vaccines.
He further told the media that the nasal vaccine could also be lucrative or available at lesser rates. “Once protocols are finalized, the university’s review board will analyze it and then refer it to the National Bioethics Committee. Final approval of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) would be required. I hope the entire process will be completed within six to eight weeks.”
