East China’s Shanghai has started administering an inhalable COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose from Wednesday, according to the Information Office of Shanghai Municipality, CGTN reports.

Developed by Chinese company CanSino Biologics, the aerosolized adenovirus type-5 vector-based COVID-19 vaccine (Ad5-nCoV) provides a non-invasive option. It uses a nebulizer to change liquid into aerosol for inhalation through the mouth, according to the company.

The company said on its official WeChat account that the vaccine can “effectively induce comprehensive immune protection in response to SARS-CoV-2 after just one breath.”

It can “induce strong humoral, cellular and mucosal immunity to achieve triple protection,” the company added.

Compared with intramuscular injection, the inhalable vaccine requires only one-fifth of its dosage. It can only be used as a booster dose for now, and adults aged 18 years and above can choose this vaccine as an alternative.

Source: Azerbaijan State News Agency