A team of US scientists has discovered a potential intranasal vaccine candidate that provides improved, longer-lasting immunity against SARS-CoV-2 viruses compared to when given as an injection.
By triggering an immune response directly at the point of entry, the intranasal vaccine candidate enhanced long-term immune memory of the virus, which could translate to a reduced need for booster shots.
There is growing evidence that intranasal vaccines provide greater protection at mucosal surfaces, making this a vaccination route that could reduce breakthrough infections and subsequent transmission of the virus.
Published in the journal eBioMedicine, the findings showed nasal administration of the vaccine candidate boosted mucosal antibody response, as expected.