Inhaled vaccine prevents COVID in monkeys

Boosting mucosal immunity could help prevent Covid infection

A new research study published in Nature suggests that boosting mucosal immunity could play a key role in preventing Covid infection. While current vaccines offer protection against severe disease, they do not provide strong protection against acquiring the infection or mild symptomatic infection. The study examined the effectiveness of administering vaccine boosts directly to different parts of the body, such as the lungs, to enhance mucosal immunity. The researchers found that intramuscular boosting had only modest effects on mucosal antibody and T cell responses. However, direct administration of the vaccine to the lungs showed a significant improvement in mucosal immune responses, resulting in near complete protection against infection.