ST. LOUIS, MO (KMOX) - The world's first nasal COVID-19 vaccine -- based on technology developed at Washington University in St. Louis -- has now been approved for use.
That nasal vaccine has been approved for use in India.
Co-inventor of the vaccine, Washington University radiation oncologist Dr. David Curiel, said a nasal spray is the perfect way to deliver this new COVID vaccine.
"You directly augment the lung defenses, in a manner that's more effective than when a virus is given systemically, that is by the intramuscular route," he said. "So direct augmentation of airway immunity can potentially achieve a sterilizing immunity that the current vaccines can't accomplish."
If the nasal spray vaccine eventually gets US approval, Dr. Curiel says it could best be used as a booster down the road.
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