Dikhyaa Mohanty 
It can take years to develop vaccines that prevent deadly infections. Thankfully, the first COVID-19 vaccine was created in just nine months. A vaccine strategy that targets all virus strains has been created by researchers at the University of California, Riverside (USA), in what will be seen as a significant advancement in the medical community.
It has been demonstrated that the vaccine, which uses RNA (ribonucleic acid), is safe for susceptible populations, such as newborns and people with compromised immune systems. This RNAi vaccination technique is already protected by a US patent held by UC Riverside. The vaccination appears to be working well in mice, according to research that was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
According to Rong Hai, a virologist at UCR and the paper’s author, “this vaccine is broad, effective against any virus variant, and safe for diverse populations.” The novel vaccination does not depend on normal immune responses like conventional ones do. Small RNA molecules are used by it to provide protection, even to those with weakened or underdeveloped immune systems.
Lead scientist Shouwei Ding said, “Our approach triggers the body’s RNAi response, weakening the virus.” One vaccination dosage proved to provide protection for at least ninety days in mice. Notably, even baby mice benefited, indicating potential for young children.
The UC Riverside team will apply this strategy to develop flu vaccines, most likely in the form of a nasal spray. The researchers believe this approach will minimise the risk of viral mutation evasion, paving the way for universal vaccines against various pathogens. “We can adapt this strategy to target numerous viruses, offering a single vaccine solution,” Ding said.
