Nasal Whooping Cough Vaccine Trial Underway at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt vaccine researchers are enrolling adult volunteers in a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored Phase II clinical trial that will study a next-generation pertussis vaccine that may protect people from whooping cough.
The vaccine, BPZE1, is a live, attenuated form of the pertussis bacterium. BPZE1 is given as a mist into the nose, rather than a shot in the arm. ILiAD Biotechnologies, LLC (ILiAD) is providing the vaccine.
Buddy Creech, MD, MPH, director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program, said administering the vaccine into the nose, instead of giving a traditional shot, may more closely mimic what is seen in a natural infection.
“It only makes sense that, when we can, we try to deliver vaccines to the place in the body where we first see the germ. For pertussis, that is the nose,” Creech said. “We think the vaccine will not only give an immune response in the bloodstream, like we normally see with a shot, but also a response in the nose.”
“What we are learning is that the vaccine now in use is good at preventing disease, but other vaccines may have greater duration of protection and be better in preventing the germ from being carried in the nose altogether or being transmitted from one person to another,” he said.
The Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program is inviting healthy volunteers ages 18-49 to participate in the study. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the NIH is sponsoring the study through the Vanderbilt Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit (VTEU).
Source: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Newsletter
Stay prepared and protected with Infection Control Today's newsletter, delivering essential updates, best practices, and expert insights for infection preventionists.
The Clean Bite: Real Talk About Infection Control — From the Classroom to the Operatory
August 5th 2025Want dental assistants who don’t just know infection control, but live it from day one? Tune in to The Clean Bite and learn how powerhouse instructor Samantha Mangioni is shaping the next generation to protect every patient, every time.
Fuel Immunity First: How to Use Nutrition to Stay Ahead of Infection
August 5th 2025Infection prevention starts long before exposure; it begins with what we put into our bodies. This article series explores how key vitamins and nutrients like D, C, zinc, and more can strengthen immune defenses, reduce respiratory illness severity, and empower infection preventionists with evidence-based strategies to support overall health from the inside out.
Rethinking Clean: How Outdated Disinfection Practices Are Fueling the AMR Crisis
August 5th 2025As drug-resistant infections rise, infection preventionists must look beyond outdated disinfectants. HOCl offers a safer, sustainable solution that has been proven effective, residue-free, and ready for health care use today.
Sharps Safety Starts with Us: Why Infection Preventionists Must Lead the Charge
August 5th 2025Sharps injuries remain a silent but serious threat in health care that infection preventionists are uniquely equipped to confront. With underreporting widespread and safety devices underused, it’s time for IPs to step into a leadership role, using their expertise in systems thinking, education, and policy to build a culture where staff protection is as prioritized as patient care.
Is the US Quietly Ending COVID-19 Vaccination for the Young and Healthy
August 5th 2025As the FDA limits COVID-19 vaccine approvals to high-risk groups, healthy adults and pregnant individuals are being left behind. Learn how these changes could impact insurance coverage, long COVID prevention, and public health strategies.
