Western Morning News (Saturday)
Could we take our Covid ‘jab’ as a tablet?
Vaccinations have changed the landscape on coronavirus, offering us a route out. But might there be an even better way, asks Ian Handford? A self-administered pill or powder, taken orally, offers even speedier protection and could be on the way
EXTREMELY good news from America suggests researchers are endeavouring to produce a pill to combat Covid-19. In Britain meanwhile Pfizer have announced their second-generation of vaccine may be in powder form as early as 2022.
If either process is successful it means the world’s immunisation package could be simplified, which may mean a much quicker return to normality than even our Government’s road-map suggests.
If liquid vaccines could be manufactured in powder format – a Pill or capsule – this might mean we could all self-medicate now how brilliant would that be. Most of us are aware how our body reacts when taking drugs orally and for anyone physically unable or not wanting to make that personal decision (for whatever reason) there are alternatives.
But for the vast majority of the population even the possibility of no further repeat visits or vaccinations or need to constantly watch, listen or read ever changing news bulletins, telling us how we should live would be nothing short of miraculous.
Liquid vaccines by injection across the world may seem safe, secure and hopefully will prove to have a lasting effect against infection and transmission, but how much easier it would be if vaccines could be kept at home to use as advised.
This would mirror what occurred when the “formulated polio vaccine” was produced and which eventually eliminated that disease.
To produce a Covid powder will involve complex freezing and temperature processes, because as we know it has a limited shelf life and requires being stored in a fridge. In China the Fosun company is currently spending millions of dollars creating “cold storage” facilities so that Pfizer medicine is not wasted.
Refrigerated lorries may deliver the medicine but it still only then has a five day life.
Any dry format vaccine needs to be “adaptable” if it is to cope with the ever changing “variants”.
We are already aware of three variants in the UK in addition to the new Wuhan strain itself. So there are many hurdles for scientists yet to overcome although my hope is some form of oral vaccine can emerge and that it is one which allows self medication. It may be necessary for everyone to carry some proof they are not infectious (an internationally accepted health passport or mobile app) and maybe for a time social distancing rules would still have to apply although this would seem a small price to pay for lifestyles being given back.
A powder vaccine against Covid 19, ought to be less expensive to produce, as it requires no bottle or sophisticated packaging or labelling and hopefully might even become suitable for posting to patients, avoiding delivery costs. In my view a Covid pill that can be taken orally is an absolute winpopulation win situation. After months of bad news we enjoyed some good headlines this week including – fewer positive cases, rising vaccination numbers, reduced infection numbers and fewer deaths.
At present the one downside is knowing the of the world must eventually all be immunised if lifestyles are ever to return to how it was before the pandemic.
Partial immunisation or elimination would leave an opportunity for Covid to return or mutate.
Any new capsule which allows self-medication in the same way people take pills for all sorts of ailments seems to me an ideal solution.
Liquid vaccines by syringe may be safe but as yet no-one knows how long they remain effective. Any powder format needs to at least mirror this and therefore it could need storage in a fridge for use as medically advised.
More good news from Pfizer came with the announcement the vaccine can after all be stored in a standard fridge rather than as previously advised in a freezer or fridge capable of -60C or more.
The Oxford vaccine was never subject to the ultra cold storage rule and now the team confirms a second dose gives even long term protection.
Further testing of both vaccines confirms that after 15 -28 days following the first “jab” affects or symptoms of feeling ill (fever or breathlessness) will be reduced by 85%.
Public Health England “efficacy test results” prove a single dose of either vaccine leaves two thirds of individuals less likely to transmit Covid.
Ian Handford is a former national chair of the Federation of Small Businesses
‘A powder vaccine against Covid-19 will be less costly with no bottle or sophisticated packaging’