Lyophilized vaccine could help rid the world of polio

TUESDAY, Nov. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) – A freeze-dried polio vaccine that could be used in non-refrigerated areas could help doctors defeat the disease, researchers said.

For this study, scientists lyophilized the injectable vaccine into a powder that was left at room temperature for four weeks. They then rehydrated and injected mice, giving them complete protection against the polio virus, which can lead to paralysis and disability for life.

"Stabilization is not witch, so most academics do not pay much attention to this area," said the study's first author, Woo-Jin Shin, researcher at the department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology of the University of Southern California.

"However, as wonderful as drugs and vaccines are, they are not stable enough to be transported, it does not do any good to anyone," Shin said in a press release issued by a university.

Poliomyelitis is a highly infectious disease that is about to be eradicated. In 2017, only 22 cases had been reported worldwide. However, young children are at risk in countries where vaccine refrigeration may not be widely available.

The University of Southern California study was published November 27 in the newspaper mbio.

The researchers hope that a foundation or company will take over the project to fund clinical trials on humans that can lead to the approval of freeze-dried vaccine.

It should be noted, however, that animal research often does not provide the same results in humans.

More information

The American Academy of Family Physicians has more information about polio vaccination.