Needle-free Covid-19 vaccines now in the works

Covid-19 vaccines that don’t require a needle may be available later this year or next year, a top scientist said.

Six to eight new immunizations may be ready for regulatory review by the end of the year -- some of which don’t require needles and can be stored at room temperature, Soumya Swaminathan, the World Health Organization’s chief scientist said over the weekend, according to Bloomberg News.

The experimental vaccines in production use alternative technologies and delivery systems, including oral and nasal administration, and skin patches -- methods that are better suited to some groups like pregnant women, Swaminathan said.

The promising inoculations are among more than 80 candidate vaccines being studied, some of which are in the early stages and may fail, another report says.