Shanghai unveiled the first COVID-19 vaccination in the world that is administered via inhalation instead of injection. In September, Chinese authorities approved the CanSino Biologics vaccine to be used as a booster.

The vaccine is currently being administered to patients, who inhale it through their mouths from a device resembling a take-out coffee cup with a short mouthpiece.

Dr. Zhao Hui, chief medical officer at Shanghai United Family Hospital Pudong, said that the mucus membrane of our respiratory system serves as the first line of defence for the human body. Researchers seek to directly stimulate this membrane to boost immunity, which the inhaled vaccine does. His hospital is administering the new vaccination alongside standard injection doses.

According to Erwin Loh, chief medical officer at St. Vincents Health Australia, in addition to its ability to prevent illness, inhaled vaccines may also help reduce vaccine reluctance.

In announcing the distribution of the inhalable vaccine this week, the Shanghai governments WeChat account stated that 23 million of the 26 million people in the city had received their initial doses of the COVID vaccine and that more than 12 million had received booster shots.

Over 90% of the population in China has received a vaccine, according to official government statistics. China has relied on domestically made, inactivated vaccines and the currently launched inhalable vaccine is an aerosol formulation of an inactive shot.

(Source: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/pharma/china-rolls-out-first-inhalable-covid-vaccine/95154393)