COVID-19 inhaled vaccine becomes available in Yunyan

A painless COVID-19 inhaled vaccination became available on Dec 10 in 13 medical service centers in the Yunyan district of Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, according to the district's disease control and prevention center.

A medical worker at Qianling Hospital in Guiyang prepares the COVID-19 inhaled vaccination. [Photo/WeChat account of Yunyan district]

The center said a total of 1,000 doses of this type of vaccine are currently eligible for administering in Yunyan.

The adenovirus-based viral vector vaccine is administered via a cup containing an aerosol. The recipient takes a deep breath from the cup, holds their breath for around five seconds and then slowly exhales.

Only people aged between 18 and 59 who have received two doses of inactivated or one dose of adenovirus vector vaccine for six months will be eligible for the inhaled vaccine.

To qualify, those aged above 60 should have received the above doses for no less than three months.

"Since Dec 10, our hospital has offered inhalable COVID-19 vaccines for residents. A group of 110 people has taken the new vaccine, most of them aged above 60," said Peng Yunfang, a medical worker at the at Qianling Hospital on Dec 14.

A medical worker prepares an aerosol of the vaccine in a special container. [Photo/WeChat account of Yunyan district]

Residents in Guiyang can reserve the inhaled vaccine at the official WeChat account of the Guiyang Disease Control and Prevention Center or receive it at hospitals directly, Peng added.

Peng Yunfang, a medical worker at the at Qianling Hospital, explains the inhaled COVID-19 vaccination to a resident. [Photo/WeChat account of Yunyan district]

"Compared with the previous COVID-19 vaccine injection, the inhaled one protects the lungs through a mucosa after inhalation. The effect is more direct, and it is needle-free," said Zhao Su, director of the immunization program at Qianling Hospital.

"Therefore, it does not affect eating or bathing, but recipients need to stay for 30 minutes for observation, as with the ordinary vaccination," Zhao added.

One recipient said it was convenient and she did not feel anything special after receiving the vaccine.