Getting your next vaccine could soon be as easy as spraying it up your schnozz.
The University of the Sunshine Coast will soon begin a phase one clinical trial of a potential new nasal spray vaccine for COVID-19.
UniSC Clinical Trials will conduct the study at its Sippy Downs centre at the Sunshine Coast, sponsored by Netherlands-based company Intravacc.
The trial vaccine is administered into the nasal passage, similar to an allergy spray. At present, all approved vaccines for COVID-19 are administered by injection into the upper arm.
Principal Investigator Dr Rob Scott, who will oversee the trial, says it would investigate how safe the nasal spray is as a vaccine and how well it works in eliciting an immune response.
“This is an exciting evolution in vaccines by targeting the virus where it enters the body, by spraying the vaccine into the nasal passage,” Dr Scott says.
“This technology could allow for quicker and safer distribution as it’s easier to transport and store than the average injectable vaccine.”
Lead clinical research coordinator James Donkin is calling for healthy volunteers, aged between 18 and 55, are being sought for the trial.
They need to be able to commit to up to eight in-person visits and three phone calls for a period of up to 6 months.
“Approximately 36 participants will be enrolled in the study, and will be reimbursed for their time,” he says.
