Painful vaccinations will soon be history. Scientists have proven that a patch applied to the skin is as effective a method of administering a vaccine as an injection. What’s more, patients can easily administer it in the comfort of their own home without the help of a doctor.
- Researchers have developed a microneedle patch that could replace the needle in the future
- The vaccine administered in this way works in the same way as the vaccine administered in the classical way. Plus it eliminates pain
- The plasters, unlike “normal” vaccines, do not need to be refrigerated
A patch covered with microneedles could revolutionize the way flu vaccines are given, for example, which should be taken on a regular basis. Researchers predict that more people will protect themselves from the flu with a painless vaccine in the patch.
The UK health service recommends that people at high risk – such as children, the elderly, and pregnant women – get vaccinated every year, but only 50% opted for this form of protection against flu last winter. pregnant women and 70 percent. seniors. Many people are afraid of needles, others do not have time to see a doctor.
Follow-up studies involving 100 volunteers in the first phase of human clinical trials showed that the patch vaccine was effective against influenza for 12 months. The vast majority of study participants confirmed that the procedure was painless and indicated that they preferred this form to other methods of administering the vaccine.
The researchers emphasize that the vaccine in the patch is not only cheap, but also very easy to use – it is possible that patients will be able to order it by mail and vaccinate themselves at home or at work without the participation of a doctor. Scientists are already working on vaccines in a plaster against polio, measles and rubella.
“Now, to get vaccinated, you need to see a doctor who gives you a subcutaneous injection,” says Dr. Mark Prausnitz, a lecturer in chemical and biomolecular engineering at the US Institute of Technology in Georgia.
– The classic vaccine must be kept in the refrigerator and the used needle and syringe must be disposed of properly. The vaccine in the form of a patch with microneedles can be bought at a pharmacy, taken home and glued to the skin. After a few minutes, you can peel it off and easily throw it into the trash, because the micro-needles used in it dissolve.
– The patch does not require refrigeration, so you can easily send it by post. No serious side effects were observed during the tests. In some volunteers redness and itching developed locally, which subsided after two or three days.
Most importantly, blood analysis confirmed that the antibody response was as good with the patch as with the traditional injection. Microscopic examination showed that the microneedles dissolve on the skin after the vaccine is administered. Thanks to this, the patches can be safely thrown into the trash, unlike needles and syringes that require specialized disposal.
Over 70 percent test participants said they would prefer the vaccine in the form of a patch rather than an injection. Scientists have already started the second phase of testing. If this is also successful, vaccines in the plaster may hit the market in just a few years. “Despite the recommended seasonal flu vaccination, the virus continues to be the leading cause of many serious and fatal cases,” said Dr. Nadine Rouphael, a professor of medicine at Emory University School of Medicine, who led the tests. – Choosing an influenza vaccine that can be administered easily and painlessly without contacting a doctor can significantly increase coverage and protection against the disease.
“People find all sorts of excuses not to get the flu vaccine,” notes Dr. Mark Prausnitz of the Georgia Institute of Technology. One of the most important reasons for the development of this technology was to maximize the availability of vaccines to humans. The test results were published by the prestigious Lancet magazine.