Oxford University is investigating the delivery of its Astra Zeneca partnered vaccine using a nasal spray

Oxford University is launching a trial at their Jenner Institute, which will investigate the delivery of its Astra Zeneca partnered vaccine using a nasal spray. The phase I trial will decide if the vaccine’s intranasal administration can enhance protection against transmission and infection of COVID-19.

The trial will include thirty healthcare volunteers aged 18-40 to investigate the level of immune system responses produced by the vaccine using the nasal delivery method. Researchers will also monitor the safety of the delivery technique and any adverse reactions.

Each volunteer will receive the identical vaccine delivered by intramuscular injection as part of the national roll-out of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

Clinician-scientist and chief investigator of the study, Sandy Douglas, stated: “Some immunologists believe that delivering the vaccine to the site of infection may achieve enhanced protection, especially against transmission, and mild disease. We hope this small safety-focused study will lay the foundation for future larger studies that are needed to test whether giving the vaccine this way does protect against coronavirus infection.”

Director of the Jenner Institute and principal investigator of the study, Adrian Hill, stated: “This is an exciting new approach to administering a leading COVID-19 vaccine that could be very effective in preventing not just disease episodes but also asymptomatic infections, and thereby help reduce transmission in the population.”