Many vaccines must be kept at low temperatures to remain effective.
This makes transportation expensive and difficult, especially in countries with poor infrastructure and unstable electricity supplies.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), up to 50 percent of vaccines are lost in some developing countries because the cold chain breaks down, News-Medical reports.
As a result, millions of people are unable to access essential treatment.
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Researchers develop solution
A research team from the University of Bath is now developing a method designed to protect vaccines from heat.
The project is led by Professor Asel Sartbaeva, who is also a co-founder of the company EnsiliTech.
The method, known as Ensilication, works by encapsulating vaccine proteins in a protective silica layer.
The goal is to make vaccines stable at normal temperatures so they can be transported without constant refrigeration.
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According to the university, this could have major significance in areas where access to cooling systems is limited.
New vaccine being tested
At the same time, the researchers have developed a new vaccine against hantavirus, which is spread by rodents and can cause serious illness.
There is currently no effective vaccine available for this group of viruses.
According to the University of Bath, the vaccine has been tested in laboratories and on animals with promising results.
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The researchers expect to begin the first human trials in the near future.
The vaccine is based on mRNA technology and the new temperature-stabilization method.
Sources: News-Medical.
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