COVID-19 vaccines that do not require a needle may be available later this year or next year, a top scientist said.
Six to eight new vaccinations could be ready for review by the end of the year – some of which do not require needles and can be stored at room temperature, World Health Organization chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said at the weekend, according to Bloomberg News.
The experimental vaccines in production use alternative technologies and delivery systems, including oral and nasal administration, and skin blemishes – methods that are better suited for some groups such as pregnant women, Swaminathan said.
The promising vaccinations include more than 80 candidate vaccines being studied, some of which are in the early stages and may have failed, Bloomberg reports.
Only 122 of the 195 countries in the world have vaccinated citizens against COVID-19, as drugmakers, according to Bloomberg, are struggling to fill orders.
“We are delighted with the vaccines we have,” Swaminathan said. But “we can improve further,” she said, according to the report. “I think we will see the rise of improved vaccines by 2022.”
Current manufacturers are also testing updated versions of their shots to tackle dangerous variants of the virus, which have increased in recent months.
The WHO is investigating whether COVID-19 survivors need just one shot of the vaccine, which could free up more supplies.
Swaminathan warned that a one-time approach could complicate matters in many countries. however, if blood tests are needed to measure antibodies first, according to Bloomberg.
According to the report, scientists are also replacing placebos with a ‘gold standard’ vaccine for ethical reasons. Another approach being investigated is to compare three or four candidate drugs with a placebo, meaning patients are only 20 percent likely to get a false dose.
“We are now in talks with several companies with vaccines in development to see if we can launch something like this on a global trial platform,” Swaminathan said.
The top scientist reiterated on Monday that there were no documented deaths related to COVID-19 vaccines.
Several countries have suspended the AstraZeneca survey to study its possible negative side effects, but Swaminathan said: “We do not want people to panic.”
With Post threads