COVID-19 Vaccine to come in pill form?
Not sure if this was posted earlier, if so I missed it, just in case; interesting research. Get us hooked on a quarterly pill instead of injections. :)
Quote:
Difference between the Vaccine in Capsule and vaccine in injection:
The respective individual way these two types of vaccines work is what sets them apart. While existing vaccines help create antibodies to the spike protein on the surface of the coronavirus, ImmunityBio's T-cell vaccine targets the globe in the middle — a part scientists say is less prone to mutation.
All three vaccines authorized for emergency use in the U.S. - from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson - work by creating antibodies that neutralize the spike protein that the coronavirus uses to enter and infect human cells.
The pill vaccine aims its ammo at the globe-shaped centre of the virus, which does not often mutate. Dr Soon-Shiong says the value of ImmunityBio's vaccine is that it generates "killer T cells" that target the centre of the coronavirus, which is less prone to mutation. Current vaccines create antibodies to the spiky part of the virus on the surface.
Faster, cheaper, easier to transport and administer:
If the vaccine in capsule form becomes a reality and wins FDA approval for use, it will be faster, cheaper and easier to administer because it wouldn't have to be stored at refrigerator or freezing temperatures.
Though researchers are hopeful the oral T-cell-creating approach may result in greater protection against COVID, the scientists working on the capsule vaccine say they are not aiming at eliminating the shot altogether. They believe capsules and injections working together would be key. So, the jab is not completely gone, a disappointment to those who hate needles.
The oral vaccine is only in experimental stages, and test subjects will be closely monitored for the next 12 months. So do not expect it to be rolling out before the entire process is completed.
