China to conduct trials in November for first nasal spray vaccine to combat COVID-19

As dely Coronavirus pandemic has claimed over 900,000 lives with over 27.5 million infections worldwide, countries across world have been in race to develop vaccines for virus. China is developing a nasal spray vaccine and has approved its trials, according to international media reports.

vaccine is said to start Phase I of clinical trials from vember and about 100 volunteers are said to be recruited in this regard.

Chinese mouthpiece Global Times has termed it only vaccine of its to be approved by China's National Medical Products ministration. development of vaccine is undertaken with collaboration between Hong Kong and Chinese mainland that involves researchers from University of Hong Kong, Xiamen University, and Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy.

vaccine stimulates natural infection pathway of respiratory viruses to activate immune response, said  microbiologist from University of Hong Kong, Yuen Kwok-yung.

Yuen said that nasal spray vaccination could generate double protection for vaccine recipients - influenza and vel coronavirus - if it also contains influenza viruses including H1N1, H3N2 and B. However he ded that it will take at least a year to complete three clinical trials before mass production.

vaccine would t have any side effects claimed reports, ding that re may be a slight nasal obstruction or shortness of breath.

However, it is t clear wher resistance generated by nasal spray vaccine will last longer than injected vaccine, reports said.

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Vaccine race

China, where Coronavirus was originated, has approved three COVID-19 vaccine candidates for clinical trials. It has also authorised emergency us of COVID-19 vaccines developed by some select domestic companies.

"We've drawn up a series of plan packs, including medical consent forms, side-effects monitoring plans, rescuing plans, compensation plans, to make sure emergency use is well regulated and monitored," Zheng Zhongwei, he of China's coronavirus vaccine development task force told official media in Beijing last month.

Meanwhile, India is also working on three vaccine candidates namely Hyderab based Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, Ahmedab based Zydus Cila's ZyCoV-D and third one was developed by Serum Institute of India in collaboration with Oxford University vaccine and AstraZeneca. However, Serum Institute has halted trials for its vaccine Covishield after a show-cause tice by Drugs Controller General of India.

Russia's vaccine Sputnik V which is in vanced sts of development has shown potential to fight COVID-19. Russia began phase III trials on September 8 and have begun ministering vaccine to volunteers in Moscow, whereas  United States' leing pharmaceutical company Moderna Inc is in Phase III of vaccine trials with last report stating that company has gared over 13,000 volunteers for participating in trials.

(With PTI inputs)