Nearly 600 COVID treatments and vaccines are in the works

[KARE 11 News, June 02, 2021] Doctors say that one way to continue increasing COVID vaccinations is to move away from injecting them. Some people have a real fear of needles and the "next generation" of treatment might help, like the possibility of a pill or nasal spray.

While the injectable vaccines were created quickly and effectively, Allina Health's Dr. Frank Rhame says improvements are important.

He notes there are nearly 600 new vaccines and treatments in the the works just for COVID-19 that are listed by the non-profit think tank the Milken Institute.

Dr. Rhame doesn't think any of it will be on the market for at least another two years to treat COVID. In fact, he says no proposed oral treatment has passed phase one.

"It's an exciting possibility, but that one I think people are going to have to scrutinize more vigorously," said Dr. Rhame. "It would have the potential of eliminating that half of the side effect of vaccines."