Scientists develop universal vaccine to protect against allergies, cold and flu

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"I think what we have is a universal vaccine against diverse respiratory threats, Dr Bali Pulendran, director of the Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection at Stanford Medicine and lead author said. Imagine getting a nasal spray in the fall months that protects you from all respiratory viruses including Covid-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and the common cold, as well as bacterial pneumonia and early spring allergens, Dr Pulendran said. That would transform medical practice."

The Independent sends reporters to developing stories across reproductive rights, climate change and Big Tech and relies on donations to fund journalists without paywalls, keeping reporting accessible across the political spectrum. Stanford Medicine researchers tested a nasal-spray vaccine in mice that protected against a wide range of respiratory viruses, bacteria that can cause sepsis, and house dust mites, producing broad lung protection lasting several months. If developed for humans, the vaccine could replace multiple yearly jabs for winter respiratory infections and might protect against future pandemic pathogens. Dr Bali Pulendran described the finding as a universal vaccine that could transform medical practice.

Read at www.independent.co.uk