The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the omicron vaccine for use by Asian countries in 2005. Given in a spray form, it has been used in the region for over eight years. But researchers from the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics at Monash University in Australia say they have recently discovered new reasons to believe it will hold much promise for anti-viral diseases.
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Dr. Dai-Huei Shih, lead author of the study, wants to caution against one assumption about the omicron vaccine. Shih tells eTN that while the nasal spray’s potential for boosting the dengue fever vaccine is not in question, he’s most interested in the debate surrounding its potential to prevent the new number of coronaviruses.
How Dengue Fever Preventing Vaccine Sees Growth
Most public health professionals want to limit the spread of dengue fever by encouraging people not to get sick. Because the disease is spread by mosquitoes, many preventative efforts are focused on mosquito control. For example, people are advised to wear clothing and use repellents to ensure they do not get bitten, and agricultural practices are designed to kill adult mosquitoes.
The researchers point out that many people in southeast Asia have previously contracted dengue fever. To prevent transmission, a “rural immunity” strategy is used. People in the areas are vaccinated with the nasal-spray version of the vaccine, which protects against four different dengue flaviviruses — A, B, C, and D — as well as a “pertussis” germ and another kind of smallpox.
Rome two, d’Urdu
However, new data suggests the vaccine may not help significantly expand people’s immunity against a very deadly form of coronavirus, one of the most rapidly evolving viruses.
The authors call the track record of the new anti-dengue flu shot “far from perfect”. They say the vaccine stops less than 5 percent of people who get a dengue fever from becoming infected. That shows it’s probably not relevant to the Asian region, so there’s no reason to develop a worldwide flu jab to protect against all of the viruses.
Chinese researchers have already succeeded in preventing the coronavirus from transmitting in humans. The vaccine triggered antibodies against coronaviruses in monkeys.
At the very least, however, the two groups want to make sure the vaccine is safe and effective for humans as well as wildlife.
“Shocking” flu season
It seems to be a “shocking” flu season already. Concerned parents are furiously looking for ways to prevent their children from catching the flu. Many older children, adults, and others have been coughing up droplets or sneezing during the past week. The Centers for Disease Control says that this will cause additional spread of the virus, so it encourages those with symptoms to take steps to prevent passing the flu to others. Unfortunately, this season is not expected to be very severe.
In any case, children and adults have been urged to take steps to reduce their risk of catching flu. Nurse practitioner Joe Cohen says that over the next week, children should be getting their flu shots. Then, adults can make sure they get the vaccine before the flu season is over.