Researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas are developing a vaccine delivery system that could boost immune response while eliminating the need for booster shots. They also found that the performance of the vaccine delivery mechanism might get a boost from zinc, which is a trace nutrient essential for many biological functions in humans, including maintaining a healthy immune system. These antigens prompt the immune system to produce antibodies against a particular disease. “This is significant because the immune system needs time to register whatever it has been exposed to. The ZIF-8 vaccine delivery method has not been tested in humans, but Gassensmith said that in addition to reducing the number of doses a patient might receive, the approach has other potential advantages over conventional vaccines.