New boosters protect against the original COVID strain as well as Omicron. In future, we might see variant-proof vaccines or those delivered in the nose or mouth.
Inhaled vaccine delivery could take on not only COVID-19, but also other respiratory infections, including tuberculosis.
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An inhaled COVID-19 vaccine would go directly to where the body would use it: the mucosal surface of the airways. This could mean less waste and more benefit, lower costs and reduced side-effects.
Seven nasal vaccines for COVID-19 are currently in clinical trials around the world.
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Research suggests that giving a person a vaccine through their nose can provide a better defense against future exposure to the coronavirus compared to a shot in the arm.