Transdermal Patch May Replace Needle Injections for Vaccines

The BBC reports that a joint effort between Emory Univerity and the Georgia Institute of Technology has resulted in a successful flu vaccine using a transdermal patch, like the ones used for smoking cessation and some other medications

As reported by the BBC, U.S. researchers caution the results are based on tests conducted with three groups of mice; one which recieved the patch with vaccine, one that received an injected vaccine, and a third that recieved a patch with no vaccine. Human trials would be needed to confirm that these results will translate to standard human vaccines. Surprisingly, the group of mice using the patch with the vaccine showed the best immune response, indicating that injections from the field of .65mm needles in the patch may be more effective than a single, larger needle injection. More importantly, a vaccine that can be administered without a needle, means that no medical training is required to stimulate immunity, and could be administered by the patient, without any professional assistance. In areas struck by epedemics, patches could be dropped into the location, eliminating the potential exposure of medical professionals to the pathogen. It could also mean that a given population would obtain immunity almost simultaneously, further reducing the spread of the agent.