Vaccine for killer whooping cough might comprise illness and cease it spreading
Government-funded clinical trial has found a nasal spray vaccine can stop it from living in the nose and throat – which is vital for stopping the spread of the killer disease
A vaccine being developed for whooping cough could contain the killer disease, experts say. Around 15,000 cases of the easily spread disease were reported in England in 2024, up from 856 in 2023. It killed 11 babies.
Current vaccines available for babies, children and pregnant women don’t stop people from carrying and passing on the bacteria.
But a Government-funded clinical trial has found a new nasal spray vaccine can stop it from living in the nose and throat, which is vital for stopping it’s spread.
Known as BPZE1, it triggered strong immune responses in both the nose and the blood, suggesting if offers long-lasting protection. The trial is backed by the National Institute for Health and Care Research which is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care.
Public health minister Ashley Dalton said: “This Government-supported trial marks a major breakthrough in our fight against whooping cough.” If the findings are confirmed in more trials and the vaccine is approved it could be given to both adults or children.
“Unlike the existing vaccine for pregnant women, which protects babies in the womb and prevents nine out of 10 infant deaths, this new nasal spray vaccine works in a completely different way – by stopping the bacteria from living in the nose and throat.
“That means it could cut transmission and offer longer-lasting protection for everyone, not just newborns. It’s a powerful showcase of the UK’s world-class research sector driving innovation to protect future generations.”
Professor Robert Read, who led the study at the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, said the vaccine “could represent a big step forward in stopping the spread of the disease”.
The Champion-1 study for the vaccine, developed by ILiAD Biotechnologies, included 53 adults and was published in The Lancet Microbe journal.
If the findings are confirmed in further trials and the new vaccine is approved, it could be given to adults or children.
