Nasal spray can help prevent COVID-19 in the absence of a vaccine

New Delhi: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc in the lives of people around the world, researchers and healthcare professionals are working tirelessly to find an effective and safe vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19, which will be the best way to prevent the spread of the virus. With no specific cure in sight, researchers are also studying various treatments used to treat other infections, with the goal of reusing them for COVID-19. While the hope that life will return to normal that we knew revolve around a vaccine, researchers have found another way to prevent COVID-19, which can be useful in the absence of a vaccine.

Vaccines, especially those that need to be injected, have their limitations. They are difficult to deploy in rural and low-income areas, and distributing these blows is not easy. Therefore, scientists came up with a more accessible alternative.

Researchers Develop Nasal Spray for COVID-19 Prevention

According to recent reports, researchers at Columbia University have developed a nasal spray, which can successfully prevent COVID-19 infections. These sprays have currently been tested on ferrets and on 3D models of human lungs.

Lipopeptide, which is a combination of lipid and peptide, prevents the coronavirus from fusing with the membrane of a target cell, preventing a key protein from taking a necessary shape. Researchers believe it should work immediately and last for at least 24 hours. The nasal spray is also affordable, lasts a long time, and doesn’t even need refrigeration.

However, the spray cannot yet be distributed to the public. Like any other medical tool, the nasal spray also has to go through human clinical trials. The spray must also be produced in large numbers, to give access to everyone. Scientists plan to “move quickly” to further testing, Columbia said.

The nasal spray could be really helpful in areas of the world where mass COVID-19 vaccinations will be difficult, especially at the start. As the production and distribution of vaccines will likely take time, nasal spray can be a supplement. People who do not get their hands on a vaccine can spray themselves daily and keep the risk of catching the virus at bay. This will not only reduce the burden on health care, but also help limit the spread of the virus in humans, which is the ultimate goal.

The new coronavirus has caused a total of more than 49 million infections worldwide and has claimed more than 1.25 million lives to date. Various vaccines are currently being tested for efficacy and safety, and the world hopes to get back to normal soon.