Scientists at Stanford Medicine have unveiled a bold new kind of “universal” vaccine that could one day protect against everything from COVID-19 and the flu to bacterial pneumonia and even common allergens. Instead of targeting a specific virus or bacterium, the nasal spray vaccine supercharges the lungs’ own immune defenses, keeping them on high alert for months. In mice, it slashed viral levels, prevented severe illness, and even blocked allergic reactions.

“I think what we have is a universal vaccine against diverse respiratory threats,” Pulendran said.

  • Abundance114@lemmy.worldEnglish
    18·
    15 hours ago

    With three doses, the mice remained protected from SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses for at least three months.

    Big pharma whips out their calculator, their eyes grow larger and larger as they excitedly do the math.

    • DigitalAudio@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      3·
      8 hours ago

      Doesn’t it make more sense to view this as something you’d only apply to yourself in the winter months and whenever there’s a sporadic uptick in respiratory diseases in your area, though?