China became the first country in the world to approve an inhaled COVID vaccine, taking the lead over other nations trying to develop a nasal vaccine.

China’s pharmaceutical company CanSino Biologics has unveiled its COVID vaccine for emergency use as a booster, which is administered in an inhaled form.

According to official data, this new version of Cansino’s adenovirus-vectored Covid-19 vaccine got the green light from the National Medical Products Administration, the company said.

“The approval will have a positive impact on the company’s performance if the vaccine is later purchased and used by the relevant government agencies,” CanSino said.

When inhaled, the small particles of the Convidencia Air vaccine would provide good protection with just a single spray, according to the Asian company.

However, the company has warned that it will face fierce competition from other vaccines in China that have also gained government approval or are in clinical trials.

Cansino also said that he was not sure when his vaccine could hit the market, as additional administrative approvals are still needed, while sales would depend on the COVID situation at home and abroad, as well as the vaccination rate of China.

China has seen a recent spike in COVID outbreaks. The southern tech hub of Shenzhen imposed a weekend lockdown on most of the city on Saturday, while the southwestern metropolis of Chengdu placed its 21,000,000 people under lockdown on Thursday.

Mainland China reported 1,848 new coronavirus cases for September 3, including symptomatic and asymptomatic infections, compared with 1,988 new cases the day before.

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