Pune:
The first nasal vaccine for H1N1 is ready for trial. Easy to deliver and safe, the vaccine seed has been obtained from Russia by Serum Institute. Dr Rajiv Dhere says that the vaccine will immunize a person locally around the nose and mouth.
With nearly 60 per cent of the country expected to get the infection, this vaccine will help in reaching a large portion of the population.
The biggest advantage of the vaccine is that it minimizes vaccine related injuries such as shock and even death which can occur in injectable ones, especially since a large number of people need to be immunised - most of them in rural areas.
Currently, India does not have any vaccines that are delivered through the nose. So there are concerns whether this one will generate enough immunity or not.
Dr Konery S B Rao, an immunologist at the Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biology, says "It is attractive because it is easy to use. But nasal vaccines can also cause toleration, actually suppressing the immune response. So it is important to see what the trial results are."
Manufacturers are banking on the numbers that they can produce. According to estimates, Serum Institute can produce up to 3,60,000 doses in two days, making this vaccine a key tool to reach a large section of the population.