China rolls out first inhalable Covid vaccine days after third Wuhan lockdown

The first people begin to receive the Covid vaccine, which is inhaled through the mouth from a container that looks like a take-out coffee cup with a short tip, in China

A resident does an inhalation booster (

Image: China News Service via Getty Ima)

Shanghai in China has introduced a new type of Covid-19 vaccine which is inhaled rather than given by injection in what is a world first.

The first people begin to receive the vaccine, which is inhaled through the mouth from a container that looks like a take-out coffee cup with a short mouthpiece.

The vaccine has been approved by Chinese regulatory authorities and produced by Chinese pharmaceutical company CanSino Biologics, for use as a booster in September.

"Our body's first line of defense is the lining of our respiratory system, we want it to be directly stimulated to improve immunity and the use of the inhaled vaccine does that," said Dr. Zhao Hui , chief physician of Shanghai United Family Hospital. Pudong, says.

Medical personnel aerosolize the Covid vaccine (

Picture:

China News Service via Getty Ima)

Erwin Loh, chief medical officer of St Vincents Health Australia, said inhaling vaccines could reduce vaccine hesitancy, as many people are afraid of injections.

“There is a large proportion of people who are resistant to the vaccine because they have a phobia of needles,” he said.

The news comes as Chinese leader Xi Jinping pursues his zero Covid policy.

Dozens of cities across China, including Wuhan where the coronavirus was first recorded, have returned to lockdowns as Xi called the policy a 'people's war to stop the spread of the virus' .