A new approach to a Covid-19 nasal vaccine shows early promise | CNN

Researchers in Germany have successfully created a nasal vaccine that can stop Covid-19 from taking hold in the nose and throat, where it initially infects the body. In hamster studies, two doses of the weakened live virus vaccine showed "sterilizing immunity" and prevented illness. The researchers believe their approach may be more effective than current vaccines.

The new vaccine targets mucosal immunity, boosting the immune system's defenses in the tissues lining the upper airways. This is a key area where the virus enters the body. The idea is to create a firewall that prevents the virus from spreading and causing infection.

A similar concept has been used in other diseases, such as measles, mumps and rubella, where live attenuated viruses are used to stimulate an immune response. However, there are concerns about the safety of these vaccines for people with weakened immunity.

The German team's vaccine is made by manipulating the genetic material of the virus to make it harder for cells to translate, effectively rendering it harmless while still allowing the immune system to recognize and fight it off. This approach has been around since the 1870s and has shown promise in treating diseases such as anthrax and rabies.

The researchers tested their vaccine in hamsters before moving on to more complex trials, including those with other variants of the Covid-19 virus. While further testing is needed, the results are encouraging, with two doses showing significantly better immunity than mRNA-based vaccines or one that uses an adenovirus to deliver the instructions to cells.

Other nasal vaccines are already in use or nearing completion in clinical trials, but they rely on adenoviruses to ferry their instructions into cells. It's unclear how effective these will be.

A total of four nasal vaccines for Covid-19 are currently undergoing late-stage testing, according to the World Health Organization. Two other nasal vaccines, one produced cheaply using chicken eggs and another developed by Codagenix, are also in human trials.

omg this is like a game changer I mean think about it if we can actually prevent Covid from taking hold in our noses that means less strain on the lungs and all that jazz. And they're saying it might be more effective than current vaccines which is no surprise to me tbh. I've had friends who got vaccinated with one of those mRNA-based vaccines and they still ended up getting infected. This sounds like a whole new level of protection

I'm not convinced about this new nasal vaccine yet... I mean, it's great that they've had promising results with hamsters, but what about humans? We're way more complex than furry little critters . And what's the deal with the safety concerns for people with weakened immunity? It just seems like another untested vaccine to me . I'm all for innovation and trying new things, but we gotta make sure it's safe and effective for real people before we start handing out shots left and right .

I'm so hyped about this new nasal vaccine ! I mean, we've been waiting for a game-changer like this for ages, and it sounds like researchers in Germany have finally found one. The fact that two doses of the weakened live virus vaccine showed "sterilizing immunity" is massive - it's like they've cracked the code to preventing Covid-19 from taking hold in the first place.

I'm all about the potential for this to be more effective than current vaccines , especially since they're targeting mucosal immunity. It's like a firewall against the virus, preventing it from spreading and causing infection . And the fact that this approach has been around since the 1870s is just amazing - we've got some old-school magic going on here !

Of course, there are some concerns about safety, but let's be real, we're talking about a vaccine that could save lives . I'm keeping my fingers crossed for further testing and hopefully soon enough, these nasal vaccines will be available to the public . It's gonna be a wild ride!

I'm thinking this new nasal vaccine is a game changer . I mean, Covid's been around for so long now we need something that can really stop it from spreading in the first place. The idea of creating a firewall in our noses is genius . It's not like it's going to hurt anyone or cause more problems than it solves. The fact that it's using a weakened live virus means it shouldn't be too harsh on people with weakened immune systems either. Fingers crossed this one works and we can finally start feeling safe again

just saw this news about the German researchers' new Covid vaccine that's injected into the nose I'm curious to know more about how it works and if it's really better than what we have now From what I've read, it sounds like they're targeting the right area where the virus enters the body, but are there any plans for mass production yet? Also, how will this vaccine be distributed compared to the current ones?

Just heard about this new nasal vaccine from Germany . I'm all for trying new things, especially when it comes to fighting off Covid-19 . The idea of targeting mucosal immunity is genius - those upper airways can be a real breeding ground for germs! . And if it's proven more effective than current vaccines, that's a huge win in my book . I'm curious to see how this plays out with human trials and whether it'll become the next big thing in vaccine tech .

I'm so hyped about this new nasal vaccine ! I remember when my grandma had measles as a kid and she was literally running around like crazy before they got the mumps & rubella vaccines . It's wild to think that researchers have been working on this concept since the 1870s, and now it could be game-changing for Covid-19 . I'm all for trying new things if it means we can stay safe without having to deal with long-term side effects . Although, I do worry about those who are immunocompromised - can't imagine how scary that must be . Anyways, fingers crossed this one makes the cut and becomes a reality soon !

This is some crazy cool science stuff going on! I'm not surprised that researchers have found a way to create a vaccine for Covid-19 that can stop it from taking hold in the nose and throat, where it first infects us. It just goes to show that with enough determination and brainpower, we can find solutions to even the toughest problems.

The fact that this vaccine is all about boosting mucosal immunity means that it's targeting a key weak point in our immune system, making it harder for viruses like Covid-19 to take hold. And I love how they're using a "firewall" analogy to describe the idea of creating a barrier between us and the virus - it just makes sense!

Of course, with great power comes great responsibility, as we always say . We need to make sure that this vaccine is safe for everyone, especially those with weakened immunity. But overall, I think this is some amazing progress in the fight against Covid-19.

The fact that this approach has been around since the 1870s and has shown promise in treating other diseases like anthrax and rabies just goes to show that sometimes, old ideas can be really valuable . And let's not forget that there are still four nasal vaccines currently undergoing late-stage testing, so there's plenty of hope on the horizon.

So, let this be a lesson to us all: with science, technology, and determination, we can overcome even the toughest challenges !

I'm not sure why everyone's so quick to dismiss this new vaccine. I mean, it's actually been around for like 150+ years and has shown promise in other diseases . The fact that it's being tested now is a big deal! And let's be real, who doesn't want a solution that might actually work better than the current ones ? It's not like they're just regurgitating old ideas , this team is doing some actual science and it's worth paying attention to. I'm not saying it's perfect or without risks, but come on, let's give them a chance!

I'm still not over how worried I was when Covid first hit back in 2020 . I mean, remember those masks everyone had to wear all the time? It's crazy to think about now that we've got this new nasal vaccine that can actually stop the virus from taking hold . Two doses and it's like a firewall for your nose! I'm no scientist, but if it's been tested on hamsters (and other animals) and it's showing promising results, I say bring it on . I mean, I know some people are still worried about the safety of these vaccines, but what about all those who can't even get a vaccine because their immune system is weakened? This sounds like a game-changer .

This is kinda cool that Germans figured out a way to make a vaccine for Covid-19 that's specifically designed to target the nose and throat area where the virus usually infects us It's like they're creating a force field around our airways to keep the virus from spreading

Ugh, I'm not sure about this one... a vaccine that's supposed to stop Covid-19 from taking hold in your nose ? It sounds too good (or bad?) to be true. What if it doesn't work on humans or has some weird side effects? And what's with all these nasal vaccines popping up everywhere? We're already dealing with so many unknowns about mRNA vaccines... I don't know, I need more info before I get on board with this one .

I'm not surprised they found something that might work better than those mRNA vaccines . I mean, all those trials with varying results can be super confusing. They're basically creating a barrier to stop the virus from taking hold in the first place. It's like trying to block a floodgate instead of just building a dam . And using weakened live viruses is nothing new - it's been done for other diseases too, like measles and mumps . The thing that worries me is the safety aspect for people with weakened immunity... you don't want someone who can barely fight off a cold to be taking something that could actually harm them . Still, these researchers are onto something, so fingers crossed it all works out

I gotta say, this new nose vaccine from Germany is pretty interesting . I mean, think about it - Covid's got a way of getting stuck up our noses & throats before it even reaches the lungs? It's like the virus has an unfair advantage . But these German researchers are trying to turn that around by basically creating a roadblock for the virus to pass through .

Now, I know some people might be worried about the safety of live vaccines, especially for those with weakened immune systems . But from what I've read, this approach has been used before for other diseases like measles & mumps, so it's not entirely untested . And let's be real, if this thing can show sterilizing immunity in hamster studies, that's gotta count for something .

I mean, it's also worth noting that these German researchers are trying a different approach than some of the other nasal vaccines out there . They're not relying on adenoviruses to deliver instructions into cells like some of those other ones... but at the same time, we don't know how effective their vaccine will actually be in real-life situations yet .

So yeah, I'm keeping an eye on this one . It's gonna be interesting to see if it pans out or not .

I'm loving this development ! Creating a vaccine that can stop Covid-19 from taking hold in the first place is a total game-changer . It's crazy how something as simple as a nasal spray could be so effective . And I totally get why researchers are stoked about it - no more worrying about getting infected before symptoms even show up! The idea of boosting mucosal immunity is genius, and I'm all for trying out new approaches . Of course, safety concerns are always valid, but I think the benefits far outweigh them . Bring on those hamster studies and human trials - let's see if this thing really can make a dent in Covid-19!

I'm kinda excited about this new nasal vaccine! It's like they're trying to create a shield for our nose and throat from Covid-19 . The idea of boosting immunity at the right spot where the virus enters is genius . And it's not like they're using some crazy new tech, it's been around since the 1800s . I mean, who doesn't love a good old-fashioned vaccine approach? It's also cool that they tested it on hamsters first and then moved on to more complex trials . I'm curious to see how this one stacks up against other nasal vaccines in the pipeline . Can we get some real-world results soon?

I'm loving this new direction in Covid vaccine research! The idea of targeting mucosal immunity is total game changer . It's crazy how researchers have been working on this concept for centuries . Making the virus harder to translate its genetic material sounds like a genius move . If it's proven safe and effective, this could be the silver bullet we've been waiting for #NasalVaccineRevolution #Covid19Breakthrough

Just saw this new nasal vaccine news and I gotta say, it's a double-edged sword . On one hand, the fact that it's showing promising results in hamster studies is super encouraging , but on the other hand, we still need to see how effective it'll be in humans before we can breathe a sigh of relief . And let's not forget about all the nasal vaccines already in use or testing... with varying degrees of success . It's like we're playing whack-a-mole with Covid-19, trying to fill every gap with another vaccine . Still, I guess that's progress, right?

This breakthrough is a reminder that science has always been driven by curiosity and a desire to understand the unknown... I mean, Covid-19 was a global mystery, but now we have a new way to combat it. It's amazing how far we've come since the 1870s when this approach was first explored. But let's not forget that safety is paramount - weakened immunity is still a concern, and we need to ensure that our immune systems aren't compromised in any way.

The concept of creating a firewall in the body is fascinating... it's like trying to keep our defenses up against an invisible enemy. I wonder if this could be applied to other diseases or even new threats yet unknown to us? It's a reminder that science is a continuous process, and we're always learning and adapting to stay ahead of the curve.

Now that we have this nasal vaccine on the horizon, do we need to rethink our approach to vaccination in general? Should we be focusing more on prevention rather than just treating symptoms after the fact? These are questions for us to ponder as we navigate this complex landscape of medical advancements...