Australian researchers are joining the race for a vaccine that treats all Covid variants in ONE SHOT – and is almost ready for human trials
- Australian research on Covid vaccines could pave the way for a vaccination every two years
- Just a jab aims to address all variants, including those that arise in the future
- The vaccine could make continuous 12-month booster shots a thing of the past
- It comes as most Australians are aiming for their fourth Covid booster in just a year
- Researchers at the University of Sydney plan to start human trials early next year
A super vaccine designed to smash all Covid variants is in the works with a goal of beginning human clinical trials early next year.
A team of scientists from the University of Sydney is mixing up different Covid mutations to find a vaccine with the best immunity, combating the need for people to get multiple vaccines at different times.
The scientists’ hope is to create a multi-pronged jab that’s so good at its “long-lasting immunity” that it’s distributed to recipients every two years.
It could make the need for boosters an outdated concept at a time when most Aussies are getting their fourth shot in 12 months for the best immunity.
New solid research on a multi-pronged vaccine targeting all Covid variants could result in people only needing a shot every two years
University of Sydney virologist Dr. Megan Steain (pictured) said her research could lead to a new Covid booster designed to target all variants as they come
The virologist Dr. Megan Steain from the University of Sydney said News Corp the variants now infecting Aussies are slipping past the immunity protection provided by the current generation of vaccines.
“What we’re seeing right now with the Covid-19 pandemic is that we’re seeing a rapid emergence of new variants that have partially escaped some of the immunity generated by our current vaccines,” said Dr. stone.
“Our goal is to generate an immunity that protects us from all possible variants that will arise in the future to limit this immune escape.”
The researchers’ goals are part of a race between 12 different teams around the world to create the first multi-effective jab of its kind.
A US team from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research has already started the first human clinical trials for several coronaviruses.
Israel is trying to make a vaccine that targets different variants in a pill form that dissolves in the mouth.
The research is vital as vaccine companies struggle to keep up with ever-changing variants struggling to overcome immunity in humans.
Moderna and Pfizer made vaccines for the original Omicron variant earlier this year, but before they stopped trying, the variant had mutated into two new robust forms.
dr Steain said it is not feasible for vaccine makers to continue down this path, stressing the need for a vaccine that targets all potential new variants in the future.
Another group of Australian researchers at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research also have a similar plan underway [WIMR] in Sydney.
They build on a separate “T-cell” vaccine that boosts immunity when given alongside other Covid vaccines.
It aims to extend the life of regular Covid vaccines in the human body by producing more T cells needed to create antibodies.
Moderna and Pfizer made vaccines for the original Omicron variant earlier this year, but before they finished testing, the variant had mutated into two new robust forms (pictured a Melbourne woman getting the Pfizer vaccine).
When a Covid booster is put into the body, it creates two things – antibodies and T cells – and they fight together to fight off the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19 disease.
As the effectiveness of antibodies decreases over time, T cells fill the gap by rapidly making more antibodies when infection occurs.
WIMR founder and infectious disease expert, Professor Tony Cunningham Access messages Last November, the Booster took a multi-pronged approach to combating mutations.
‘We’re trying to develop a booster that doesn’t need to be swapped out every time a new variant appears, it can just be used for all variants,’ said Professor Cunningham.
But the public health doctor, Dr. Robert Grenfell said making the multi-impact vaccine is no walk in the park as efforts to do the same with the flu shot have failed.
“Believe me, a lot of work went into it and it was full of failures. But that certainly doesn’t mean we’re giving up on the coronavirus,” he told The Courier-Mail.
