The Valneva COVID-19 vaccine: Why it might be a game-changer

Since their inception and rollout, COVID-19 vaccines have changed the course of the pandemic. Prior to the vaccines, we relied on social distancing measures to help reduce the spread of the virus and a handful of imperfect treatment options to treat those unlucky enough to become sick with it.

It is fair to say vaccines have saved countless lives.

Now French pharmaceutical company Valneva is throwing its hat into the vaccine ring, but it has a vaccine with a difference. Rather than induce an immune response that targets just the spike protein of the coronavirus, the Valneva vaccine, also known as VLA2001, stimulates an immune response to the entire virus, and that might just give it an edge over its competitors.

It is different in that it uses the tried and tested method of taking the whole of the coronavirus and inactivating it so that it can no longer cause illness. It then combines with an adjuvant, a substance that helps it enter human cells effectively.

A similar technique is used to make flu and polio vaccines. The idea is that by introducing a whole coronavirus into the human body, albeit one which has been inactivated and cannot cause illness, the immune system will recognise the whole virus as foreign and not just the spike proteins. This will give a much broader immune response and increase the memory cells that can recognise different parts of the virus should the vaccinated individual become infected with the real coronavirus.

The company say the advantage to this is that should any mutations arise on the spike protein that render it unrecognisable to the vaccine, the Valenva-induced immune response is broad enough to be able to recognise other parts of the virus so the immune reaction will still be effective.

With the shapeshifting nature of the virus, it is worth investing in vaccines that do not rely on just one part of its structure to generate protection.

Phase-three trials for the Valneva vaccine were carried out on more than 4,000 patients aged 18 years and older across 26 sites in the United Kingdom. The trials compared the immune response rates with those vaccinated with the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccines and results showed that VLA2001 generated a stronger immune response than the AstraZeneca vaccine – with higher levels of neutralising COVID-19 antibodies in the blood.

Researchers also found no severe cases of COVID-19 among participants receiving the Valneva vaccine, despite the Delta variant being in circulation during the trial.

A jab that produces a good immune response and may be able to protect against future mutations of the coronavirus is certainly a welcome addition to our vaccine arsenal. And with the shapeshifting nature of the virus, it is worth investing in vaccines that do not rely on just one part of its structure to generate protection. The Delta variant has taught us not to underestimate the coronavirus and with many poorer countries yet to vaccinate significant parts of their populations, there is a higher chance of new mutations arising.

But it is not without its controversy. The UK, which initially put in an order for 100 million doses, recently cancelled that order over allegations of breach of contract, something the pharmaceutical company strongly denies. The contract Valneva has with the UK government lists a broad range of potential breaches and it is unclear which one the government is referring to, but “supply issues” have been mentioned.

Despite this, the manufacturers have applied to the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for approval, and expect to receive it by the end of the year. They are also preparing to submit a request with the European Medicines Agency. If they get that European approval, the UK government may well end up regretting their decision to cancel the order as the vaccine is likely to be snapped up by other countries.

Progress report: Promising results for the COVID-19 vaccines as a nasal spray

Most vaccines are given as an intramuscular injection, though some, like the polio vaccine, are given orally. Most children in the UK are given the flu vaccine as a nasal spray.

Nasal vaccines have their own advantages, one of which is the option of self administration. Many bacteria that affect the respiratory system are breathed in, so the lining of the nasal passage and the airways are packed with immune cells to protect us from invading germs. Studies have shown that the flu vaccine given as a nasal spray not only induces a good immune response all over the body, but also locally around the nasal passageways, the doorway to respiratory infections.

One of the questions I am constantly being asked is: When will the COVID-19 vaccine become available as a nasal spray? For those who are needle phobic, it is an ideal way to administer a vaccine. And years of giving out the flu vaccine as a nasal spray to children have taught me that it is much easier than using a needle.

So it will be good news for many that a recent study led by the US-based National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has found giving the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine as a nasal spray reduced viral shedding in animal models. The study initially looked at hamsters, separating them into two groups: one was given the COVID-19 vaccine as an intramuscular injection, the other as a nasal spray. Both routes of administration produced high antibody levels, but the nasal spray outperformed the injection.

It then went on to compare unvaccinated monkeys with those who were given the nasal spray. Both sets of monkeys were exposed to the COVID-19 virus, the vaccinated monkeys had a low viral load in their noses and lung tissue, and none of them developed symptoms of pneumonia, while three of the unvaccinated monkeys did. Having a low viral load present in the nose after a nasal vaccine may be a game changer as it could seriously reduce risk of onward transmission to other people.

Spurred on by the results of animal studies, researchers at Oxford University set up a phase-one trial looking at the effectiveness of the nasal spray vaccine in adult humans.

Thirty healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 40 were enrolled and investigated for the level of immune system responses generated by the vaccine using this delivery technique, as well as monitored for safety and for any adverse reactions. If the results of this small clinical trial are as promising as the animal trials have been then it may make it easier to vaccinate those who are afraid of needles. If nasal vaccines do cut transmission rates then that could change the course of the pandemic.

Good news: HPV vaccine slashes cervical cancer rates

New research has found the HPV vaccine can reduce cases of cervical cancer by nearly 90 percent.

The cervix is the bottom end of the womb and sits at the top of the vaginal canal. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women around the world, killing more than 300,000 each year.

By far the most common cause for cervical cancer is the human papilloma virus (HPV). Genital HPV is spread through contact with (touching) the skin of someone who has an HPV infection. Contact includes vaginal, anal and oral sex. The HPV vaccine protects against the main cancer-causing strains of the virus: HPV 16 and 18. Protecting people against the infection helps to prevent abnormal changes in cervical cells, in turn leading to fewer cases of cervical cancer.

The WHO announced plans to eliminate the disease ‘within the next century’ by achieving 90 percent coverage for HPV vaccination by 2030.

Almost 90 percent of cervical cancer deaths are in low and middle-income countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO announced plans to eliminate the disease “within the next century” by achieving 90 percent coverage for HPV vaccination by 2030. More than 100 countries have now introduced the HPV vaccination programme. In these countries, cervical cancer is often not identified until it has advanced and symptoms have developed. Richer nations have cervical cancer screening, where women are invited in at regular intervals for smear tests.

The HPV vaccine programme started in the UK in 2008. In England, all boys and girls aged 12 to 13 years (born on or after September 1, 2006) are routinely offered the first HPV vaccination, the second dose is offered six to 24 months after the first dose.

The study published in the Lancet medical journal, the first of its kind, showed the vaccine has dramatically reduced cervical cancer rates by almost 90 percent in women in their 20s who were offered it at age 12 and 13. It is a real victory for vaccines in general, and shows that the HPV vaccine combined with cervical cancer screening, can potentially reduce cervical cancer to the point where almost no one develops it.

At a time where anti-vaxxers are more vocal than ever and misinformation about vaccines is spreading faster than before, thanks to social media, it is good to remind these people how important vaccines are in saving lives, and this study does just that.

Personal account: The rise of eco-anxiety

Over the last few months I have noticed a new phenomenon: an increasing number of my patients are so worried about the climate and environment that it is affecting their mental health, a condition known as “eco-anxiety”. The term refers to living in chronic fear of environmental doom.

There is no denying the climate emergency and with all eyes on the ongoing COP26 and the increasing disappointment over its outcomes, the constant worry about the environment is taking its toll on the mental health of both the old and the young. In my experience, it is the younger generations who are consulting about this – with symptoms including not being able to sleep, focus on anything or enjoy the things they used to, as the fear is all encompassing. I refer some of them for talking therapy, but for some, the symptoms are so debilitating that anti-depressant medication is warranted alongside other psychological support.

As someone who is an ambassador for multiple wildlife charities and talks regularly about the need to do more for our environment and improve biodiversity on his social media channels, I can empathise fully with these patients. I have to admit that the increasing worry over the environment and the feeling of being helpless to stop it can sometimes be quite overwhelming. I have found myself thinking of nothing else for hours at a time, reading article after article on what world leaders are not doing to help protect the planet for future generations.

As it is often children or young people who present with this condition, I have some top tips that I share with parents to help support their child at home:

1. Talk to them about their concerns, listen to them without adding in any of your own fears about the environment. Like adults, children who are worried need to talk to someone they can trust and who will not judge them or brush their concerns aside.
2. Ensure they take regular breaks from social media and news outlets that are feeding their anxieties.
3. Tell them what is being done to help the environment, both on a local and global level.
4. Get them involved in local activities such as litter picking or beach cleaning, so they can come home feeling they have made a difference.
5. If their worries are affecting their sleep, appetite, schooling or ability to concentrate on other things, speak to a healthcare professional.

Reader’s question: When will the COVID-19 antiviral drug molnupiravir be available and for whom?

The UK’s MHRA officially approved the use of the antiviral oral drug, molnupiravir, on November 4, 2021. It said it was safe and effective at reducing the risk of hospitalisation and death by around 50 percent in those with mild to moderate COVID-19, who may have one or more risk factors for developing severe disease. The drug works by reducing viral replication and onward transmission. It is most effective when taken during the early stages of infection. The MHRA recommends its use as soon as possible following a positive COVID-19 test and within five days of the onset of symptoms.

Molnupiravir has been authorised for use in people who have mild to moderate COVID-19 and at least one risk factor for developing severe illness. Such risk factors include obesity, older age (over 60 years), diabetes mellitus, or heart disease.

A pill that is effective in preventing hospitalisations in those who test positive for COVID-19 will mean more cases can be managed at home, freeing up hospital capacity for those requiring treatment and procedures for other illnesses. It is likely to be approved by other countries in the near future.