An improved human Q fever vaccine could be available in six years time if further funding to conduct testing and research can be secured.
Last month the NSW government committed to investing $200,000 of funding into research and development for an improved human Q fever vaccine and an additional $275,000 for an education campaign.
The new research funding will assist the Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory and Camden Agricultural Institute’s Elizabeth Macarthur, to develop the improved vaccine.
Microbiologist and Rickettsial medical director Stephen Graves said the laboratory had been working on the new Q fever vaccine for about five years.
“The vaccine has been designed based on our knowledge of the structure of the bacterium and the human immune response to it,” Dr Graves said.
He said funding was now being sought for a further three years of study of the new vaccine in guinea pigs.
A minimum of $500,000 is needed for the vaccine testing.
“Once we know for sure the new vaccine works in guinea pigs and is safe in previously-exposed guinea pigs, then we will go to phase one human trials,” Dr Graves said.
“The new human Q fever vaccine would not require patients be pre-tested, so no blood or skin test will be required prior to vaccination, unlike the situation with Q-VAX,” he said.
“There is definitely a need for industry pressure to help.”
The current vaccine is not suitable for people aged under 15 years old and requires screening to prevent severe reactions in those who have had previous exposure to Q fever.