Nasal Vaccine Tackles Whooping Cough Transmission and Severe Disease

As of November 10th, 2025, researchers from Trinity College Dublin have created a groundbreaking nasal vaccine that addresses key limitations of current whooping cough vaccines. The new vaccine not only prevents severe illness but also curbs bacterial transmission within communities.

The development comes amidst a surge in whooping cough cases, with over 500 reported between January and June 2025, including 8 in babies under 3 months old. While existing vaccines are life-saving, they struggle to prevent bacterial colonization in the nose and throat, allowing the highly infectious disease to spread.

The Trinity team's approach uses antibiotic-inactivated Bordetella pertussis to stimulate immunity directly at the respiratory mucosa, the site of infection. This triggers T-cells to fight germs in the lungs and upper airways without causing unwanted inflammation. Preclinical studies in mice show the new vaccine outperforming current options in protecting against lung and nasal cavity infection.

Experts believe this innovative vaccine could serve as a stand-alone next-generation pertussis solution and a starting point for other respiratory illness vaccines. However, further research is needed before it can be used on people.