Health: What is a nasal spray vaccine and how does it work?

A few days ago, the World Health Organization announced that clinical trials had begun for eight nasal spray vaccines aiming to “shut the door” against COVID-19.

The announcement raised hopes that cases of COVID-19 infections would dramatically drop, as the nasal spray vaccines in development trigger the production of immunoglobulin A, an antibody that can block infection.

But what exactly is a nasal spray? How does it work and why is it more effective in blocking COVID-19 infections?

As is clear from its name, a nasal spray is a method of delivering liquid medication by spraying it into or through the nose. It is different from a neti pot, which is used to deliver saline water into the nasal cavity to flush out mucus and other irritants.

Nasal sprays have been in use as far back as the 1950s, with the National Museum of American History displaying one used to relieve nasal congestion in head colds and hay fever.

Nathalie Mielcarek, a researcher developing a nasal spray vaccine for the whooping cough with the Lilie Pasteur Institute, says a vaccine delivered directly through the nose “lowers the risk of infecting other people” because the lungs get a lesser amount of the virus.

Developing a nasal spray vaccine would also have a number of advantages over the current vaccines in the market. For one, they do not need to be refrigerated and can be self-administered by people in their homes.

But while the nasal spray vaccine is still being developed, current vaccines are still the best way to protect oneself from COVID-19. In fact, a number of celebrities and Kapuso stars have already gotten vaccinated.

Neri Naig, the pregnant wife of Parokya ni Edgar vocalist Chito Miranda, recently posted about her delight at getting the second dose of the vaccince.

Kapuso star Beauty Gonzalez also got her first jab of the COVID-19 vaccine a couple of months ago.

Check out other celebrities who have gotten vaccinated in the gallery below: