According to the leader of the Philippines’ vaccine expert group, the novel inhalable COVID-19 vaccine produced by China-based CanSino Biologics has the potential to be very beneficial to Filipinos.

Dr. Nina Gloriani pointed out that CanSino Biologics, the company that produces the vaccine, has yet to submit an application for an emergency use authorization (EUA) with the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Wala, kailangan nilang mag-submit ng application, so wala pa, hindi pa yan pumapasok, as far as I know from FDA,” she stated.

“But it has its potentials, kasi nga, imbis na iinjectionan natin, mas mabuti na ang delivery nung vaccine ay through the nose o sa mouth…kung saan doon sa normal na pagpasok ng virus ay yun yung nangyayari sa natural infection. So mi-mimic niya, imitate niya, yung ganoong pagpasok ng virus.”

Gloriani observed that consumers of the inhalable vaccination appear to be protected against COVID-19. She also stated that using it is safe. 

“So largely booster itong bibigay nila na inhalable ‘no…bibigyan nila 2 doses, primary yun, binigyan ng isang booster nito at nakita nila na kumparado sa pare-pareho na injectable, tatlong injectable vs. 2 injectable + 1 booster ay actually mas maganda ang resulta doon sa itong inhalable na booster, mas maataas at maganda din ang kanyang performance, ang proteksyon sa omicron variant,”

But she cautioned that additional research would be required to determine whether asthmatics could utilize the inhalable vaccination.

“Merong data yan…na actually medyo hindi advisable sa may mga asthma, kasi baka mag-mist, mag-trigger ng hyperreactivity, but of course kailangan pag-aralan yun,” she says.