Nanming implements inhalable COVID-19 boosters

A medical worker showcases the inhalable COVID-19 vaccine. [Photo/Nanming Media Center]

Nanming district in Guiyang, the capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, started implementing inhalable COVID-19 vaccination on Dec 9. 

The first batch of inhalable vaccines became available in the Nanming branch of Guiyang's Health Center for Women and Children.

The process of receiving an inhalable COVID-19 vaccination is easily completed. Recipients only need to inhale the atomization vaccine, and then hold his or her breath for about 5 seconds.

The full name of the inhalable COVID-19 vaccination is the recombinant COVID-19 virus vaccine for inhalation (type 5 adenovirus vector), and it is currently only used for booster immunization and cannot be used for basic immunization.

"This method of vaccination does not require injections, is painless, and is more comfortable for recipients." Nie Min, a leading member of the vaccination team at the Nanming Branch of Guiyang's Health Center for Women and Children.

Compared with the intramuscular injection method, the inhaled vaccine better resists viruses entering the mucosa, body fluids and cells by providing humoral immunity, cellular immunity and mucosal immunity, Nie added.