I can get vaccinated without injections, is there such a good thing?!

Audit expert: Gu Haitong

Deputy Chief Physician, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University

Recently, many patients with "double positive" have appeared in respiratory and fever clinics in various places, or people with "first positive" who escaped the peak in the past few months but unexpectedly "got infected" recently. If you don't want to get an injection and feel sick and uncomfortable, is there any alternative? This is where the inhaled COVID-19 vaccine comes in.

As early as December 2022, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Zhengzhou and other places have started the vaccination of inhalation vaccine "booster shots". So, do you know the precautions and vaccination conditions when using inhalation vaccines?

Source: China News Video

1

The process of virus invading the human body

When talking about vaccines, we have to talk about viruses. The process of virus "invasion" in the human body can be roughly divided into five stages: adsorption, injection, synthesis, assembly and release.

Five stages of virus invasion

Source: Sohu

Take the new coronavirus as an example: during the adsorption stage, the spike protein S on the protein shell of the new coronavirus binds to the receptors on our cell membrane and adsorbs to the cell membrane.

Then comes the second phase, “injection,” which, as the name suggests, is when the coronavirus injects its genetic material into the nuclei of uninfected cells in our body ;

This is followed by "synthesis", where the virus's genetic material continues to replicate and synthesize related proteins, thereby completing the "assembly" of the individual within the host cell .

Finally, in the fifth step, “release”, the progeny viruses are released and begin to infect other healthy host cells again. As the virus becomes more and more in the human body, the immune cells in the human body are widely activated and gradually eliminate the virus.

Source: pexels

To prevent the new coronavirus, scientists have developed a new vaccine: unlike other traditional vaccines that require intramuscular injections, the new vaccine is administered by inhalation.

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Advantages of inhaled vaccines

Inhaled vaccines enter the human body through the mouth in the form of a spray, causing people to produce an immune response. Compared with traditional vaccines, they have many advantages:

1. Exhale - inhale - hold your breath , and the inhaled recombinant novel coronavirus vaccine is complete. Vaccination is convenient and does not require injections. It is very suitable for people who are afraid of needles and children who are afraid of pain. The inhaled vaccine can be said to be a blessing for many "needle-phobic" patients.

Compared with traditional injection vaccination, the inhalation vaccination process is painless and comfortable, without causing adverse reactions such as redness, swelling, pain, nodules, etc., and is safer and more convenient.

Source: China News Service

2. It simulates the natural infection mode and route of the new coronavirus very realistically . Fewer antigens are needed, and the dosage of the new vaccine is only 20% of that of the traditional vaccine, saving a lot of costs and resources. Each person only needs to inhale the vaccine once .

3. The vaccine is atomized into an aerosol, which can directly act on the mucosa and produce strong mucosal immunity , which is impossible through intramuscular injection.

The inhaled recombinant COVID-19 vaccine uses a nebulizer to atomize the vaccine into tiny particles, which are inhaled through the mouth and enter the upper respiratory tract, bronchi, and lungs, ultimately stimulating mucosal, humoral, and cellular immunity, providing more comprehensive protection for the recipient. Some citizens who have received the vaccine said that the vaccine "tastes slightly sweet."

Source: Jiangxi Daily

The inhaled vaccine vaccination process is relatively simple and can be summarized in three steps:

Step 1: The recipient exhales deeply, being careful not to let his mouth touch the nebulizer cup.

Step 2: Put the nozzle of the atomizer cup in your mouth and inhale deeply until there is no mist in the cup.

Step 3: Hold your breath for more than five seconds after inhaling.

Source: The Paper

Studies show that people aged 18 and above who have completed inactivated coronavirus vaccine or adenovirus vector immunization with an interval of more than 6 months can receive the inhaled vaccine.

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Precautions for vaccination

Many people are also taking a wait-and-see attitude towards this vaccine, not knowing whether the vaccination is safe and whether it will cause serious sequelae and side effects.

According to clinical research feedback, **if people who have received two doses of inactivated vaccine use inhaled vaccine for booster immunization, the effect is comparable to or even better than other homologous inactivated vaccines or recombinant subunit vaccines. **After vaccination, you may experience symptoms such as dry mouth, dry throat, and discomfort, which can be relieved by drinking water. Very few people will experience headaches, which will disappear after about 2-3 days.

So, can the elderly or people with chronic diseases get vaccinated? The answer is yes. There is no upper age limit for COVID-19 vaccination, and the elderly have more underlying diseases and need more protection from vaccination.

Elderly people with contraindications to vaccination can participate in scientific evaluation and vaccination contraindication surveys, and those who pass the screening can be vaccinated. Elderly people with hypertension can be vaccinated if their blood pressure is well controlled, and diabetic patients can also be vaccinated with peace of mind if their blood sugar is well controlled. Women who are preparing for pregnancy can be vaccinated with confidence, but it is not recommended for pregnant women.

After the vaccination is completed, people need to stay on site for 30 minutes. Try not to come into contact with allergens within a week after vaccination to prevent allergic reactions. In addition, it is best not to eat spicy food, drink alcohol, or smoke within a week.