Researchers at Université Laval are advancing a groundbreaking vaccine that may shield young children from multiple diseases, including the dangerous respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This potential vaccine, targeted at children aged six months to five years, could become the world’s inaugural vaccine against respiratory viruses in this age group.
Guy Boivin, a medicine professor at Université Laval, emphasized the absence of approved vaccines for these diseases in young children. While vaccines for RSV exist for the elderly, they are lacking for the younger age group. Currently, infants born during winter or spring are given temporary antibodies to combat RSV, but this protection lasts a maximum of six months. The aim is to develop a long-lasting vaccine to avoid annual vaccinations.
Initially designed as a “bivalent” vaccine to combat human metapneumovirus and RSV, the team recently upgraded it to a “trivalent” version by incorporating proteins from a third virus. Animal trials demonstrated a robust immune response, blocking virus replication in the lungs. The vaccine is said to address a significant portion of bronchiolitis and pneumonia cases in young children.
The experimental vaccine, administered nasally, offers a needle-free and potentially more effective method of immunity by targeting viruses directly in the nose. By creating a protective barrier at the nasal entry point, the vaccine aims to intercept and neutralize invading viruses promptly.
Despite challenges in developing mucosal respiratory virus vaccines, the research team believes their candidate shows promise in safeguarding children and at-risk individuals. While further studies are needed to explore its efficacy in broader populations, caution is advised for immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women due to potential risks associated with the attenuated virus.
The study results were detailed in the journal “npj Vaccines,” showcasing the pioneering efforts of the Quebec-based researchers in combating respiratory diseases.
