Cork scientists close in on food-based vaccines

Scientists at University College Cork have said that they are close to developing food-based vaccines. These vaccines would eliminate the need to administer vaccines by syringe. The scientists are conducting research to modify bacteria found in foods such as yoghurts, to create vaccines for diseases such as Meningitis C, cholera and malaria.

Thousands of babies and children are vaccinated by injection in Ireland every year to immunise them against diseases such as polio, whooping cough and Meningitis C. As well as being a huge logistical exercise, it is also traumatic for the children involved.

A team of 25 scientists at University College Cork is working on a project to develop food-based vaccines, which would eliminate the need to administer vaccines by syringe. The researchers say that there are obvious advantages: food-based vaccines taken orally would be cheaper and would also be likely to meet less resistance than vaccines administered by injection. This would mean that the up-take for vaccination would be higher.

Researchers at University College Cork have already tested this technology on mice and it works. The next step is clinical tests on people. After that, the scientists believe food-based vaccines in foods such as yoghurt will begin to replace the dreaded needle within five years.