Canada has become the first country to allow the use of a plant-based anti-Corona vaccine.
Canadian regulators said Thursday that the two-dose Medicago vaccine can be given to adults ages 18 to 64, but said there was very little data on vaccines in people 65 and older.
The decision was based on a study of 24,000 adults that found the vaccine was 71% effective in preventing COVID-19, even though that was before the omicron mutant appeared. Side effects were mild, including fever and fatigue.
Medicago uses plants as living factories to grow virus-like particles that mimic the spiky protein that coats the virus. The particles are removed from the leaves of the plants and purified. Another ingredient, an immune-boosting chemical called adjuvant made by British partner GlaxoSmithKline, was added to the injection.
While many COVID-19 vaccines have been launched worldwide, global health authorities are looking for additional candidates in hopes of increasing the supply worldwide.
The Quebec City-based Medicago Corporation is developing plant vaccines against many other diseases, and a COVID-19 vaccine may help spur more interest in this new way of medical manufacturing.