What If You Could Get a Shot by Drinking a Beer Instead?

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Food News! 

If you despise needles, maybe some LIQUID COURAGE could help.  And no, I’m not talking about doing shots BEFORE a shot.

A virologist named Chris Buck believes he’s created an experimental “vaccine beer” using engineered yeast to deliver antigens to your body.

These aren’t immunizations for kids… obviously… or common flu shots.  It’s specifically for “polyomaviruses“…small viruses that cause asymptomatic infections in most people, but can lead to very serious health issues in people with weakened immune systems.

Technically, the inspiration was not people who are scared of needles…it’s because researchers haven’t developed an injectable vaccine for these viruses yet.  And Chris believes this could be made available to sick people faster.

But before you get too excited about this, it’s getting a lot of push-back from experts.  Chris has tested the vaccine beer on mice… as well as himself and his brother… but there hasn’t been any wide-ranging testing.

In fact, some experts say that this is a dangerous approach, because it’s being deployed in a FOOD, which doesn’t face the same strict regulatory oversight as injectable medications.  Those require extensive clinical trials.

Chris says he chose beer just because he’s passionate about it… and he has been a home brewer for decades.

@sciencenewsofficial Virologist Chris Buck tested a vaccine beer against polyomavirus on himself. The self-experiment is controversial as is Buck’s desire to share the potential vaccine as a food before getting FDA approval. Critics worry his actions could undermine confidence in vaccines. Science News witnessed some of his first sips of vaccine beer. Read more about this Science News exclusive coverage at the link in our bio! #Beer #Vaccine #Science ♬ original sound – Science News

SOURCE: Food & Wine