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China begins human testing for nasal spray COVID-19 vaccine

*First trial vaccine for Coronavirus that does not require needle injection is 10th candidate from China to enter human trials

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

China has approved the first phase of human testing for a nasal spray vaccine, said to be the first trial vaccine for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that does not require a needle injection.

The trial of the spray vaccine started Wednesday, September 9, 2020.

It was co-developed by researchers at Xiamen University and Hong Kong University with the aid of vaccine maker Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise, reports Bloomberg.

Previously, the intranasal spray method has been used to administer flu vaccines for people seeking an alternative to injections.

The latest vaccine marks the 10th candidate from China to enter human trials.

Report says the announcement came as the United Kingdom-headquartered company AstraZeneca was forced to pause late-stage human trials of a potential Coronavirus vaccine after a spinal cord illness was detected in a patient who received the shot.

ConsumerConnect learnt Advanced Chinese vaccine developers such as CanSino Biologics and state-operated China National Biotec Group have reassured their product’s efficacy amid setbacks experienced by AstraZeneca.

CanSino said its shot has been safe in trials and has not caused severe side effects.

An obstacle CanSino faces, however, is getting other nations to allow trials abroad.

Critics are skeptical about the Chinese-made vaccine because it allegedly triggers fewer antibodies than other products currently under trial analysis, says agency report.

Zhu Tao, CanSino’s Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer, defended the company’s vaccine against criticism recently.

Tao stressed that the variation in antibody readings was due to different measuring methods.

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