Scientists in the UK have developed a vaccine that can be stored as a powder at room temperature without the need for refrigeration. The research was conducted with support from the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
The study, reported by the BBC, was published in the journal EClinicalMedicine, which is part of The Lancet. Researchers converted a liquid tetanus-diphtheria vaccine into a dry powder form using a substance called 'trehalose'.
The development was inspired by plants that dry up during droughts and revive with rain, utilizing the cell-protecting properties of trehalose. Laboratory data showed the vaccine's effective components maintain stability at temperatures between -20 and 40 degrees Celsius.
Clinical testing and safety
The powder form of the vaccine was stored at room temperature for one year before being re-liquefied for testing. During trials involving 60 volunteers, researchers reported that the vaccine was safe and well-tolerated.
The immune response generated by the powder form vaccine was found to be equivalent to the traditional tetanus-diphtheria vaccine. Scientists plan to conduct a more comprehensive clinical study involving 160 people in the coming months.
Addressing vaccine waste
This method could reduce dependence on the 'cold chain' system, which requires vaccines to be transported at specific temperatures from production to application. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately half of the vaccines produced worldwide are destroyed without being used due to expiration, unused doses, damage during transport, and specifically the breakdown of the cold chain.
Of vaccines produced worldwide are destroyed due to factors including cold chain breakdown, according to the WHO.
