Self-Administered Vaccines: Immunizations of the Future

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Jul202010

Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 11:28AM

Doctors have been using hypodermic needles for more than 150 years, but times they are a changing! The future of immunizations rests in a revolutionary new product that can be self administered with no special medical training.

Researchers at Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed and tested a prototype vaccine-delivery patch containing hundreds of microscopic dissolving needles that they call microneedles. The study was conducted using a group of mice, half of which were immunized using the traditional hypodermic needle, the other using the microneedle patch. 30 days later, both groups were disease free.

“In this study, we have shown that a dissolving microneedle patch can vaccinate against influenza at least as well, and probably better than, a traditional hypodermic needle,” said Mark Prausnitz, a professor in the Georgia Tech School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

Users simply press the patch into their skin. Minutes later, the microneedles have dissolved into the users' bodily fluids; the backing can then be thrown out.

“We envision people getting the patch in the mail or at a pharmacy and then self administering it at home,” said Sean Sullivan, the study’s lead author from Georgia Tech. “Because the microneedles on the patch dissolve away into the skin, there would be no dangerous sharp needles left over.”

Cost is also a non-issue for this revolutionary new product. The microneedle patches are expected to “cost about the same as conventional needle-and-syringe techniques, and may lower the overall cost of immunization programs by reducing personnel costs and waste disposal requirements,” Prausnitz said.

“Another advantage of these microneedles is that the vaccine is present as a dry formulation, which will enhance its stability during distribution and storage,” said Ioanna Skountzou, an Emory University assistant professor.

This product could also assist in immunizing patients in developing countries where healthcare and medical professionals are in short supply.

“The dissolving microneedle patch could open up many new doors for immunization programs by eliminating the need for trained personnel to carry out the vaccination,” Prausnitz said. “This approach could make a significant impact because it could enable self-administration as well as simplify vaccination programs in schools and assisted living facilities.”

More clinical trials will have to be performed before the patch can be mass produced and distributed, but the initial results speak for themselves.

Rebecca Rockel |

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References (2)

References allow you to track sources for this article, as well as articles that were written in response to this article.

Source: Disappearing Needles: Vaccine-Delivery Patch with Dissolving Microneedles Eliminates “Sharps” Waste and Improves Protection

by John Toon on July 17, 2010
Source: No More Needles: The Vaccines Of The Future

by Rachel Kaufman on July 19, 2010

Reader Comments (6)

that would be of great help improve accessibility to patients, but more than anything as I mentioned, the handling of waste would be safer, I hope it becomes a reality in a few years

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