Bye Bye Flu Shot, Hello Patch? pain-free and more convenient alternative to flu shots.

 Bye Bye Flu Shot, Hello Patch? Dissolvable Microneedle Vaccine

bye-bye flu shot,

 Bye Bye Flu Shot, Hello Patch? Dissolvable Microneedle Vaccine

Early results look promising for dissolvable microneedle vaccine 

An experimental evaluation of the flu vaccine with microréuses dissolution seems to be safe and effective, a preliminary study shows.

The patch contains 100 solid, water-soluble and painless microneedles that are long enough to penetrate the skin. Researchers say it could offer a painless and convenient flu vaccine alternative.

"Stripped of dressing and side and soluble needles can transform the way vaccination is done," said Dr. Roderic Pettigrew, director of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of the United States, funded the study.

"A particularly attractive feature is that this vaccine patch can be delivered by mail and self-administered, and this technology is promising for the delivery of other vaccines in the future," he said.

The study of 100 adults found that the patch triggered a strong immune response and did not cause serious side effects. In addition, some patients develop local reactions on the skin at the points, which meant a slight redness and mild itching that lasted two or three days.

The flu vaccine is released by microneeds, which dissolve within minutes. The patch is then removed and discarded.

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University led the study. The results were published online June 28 in The Lancet.

These early results "suggest the emergence of a promising new option for seasonal vaccination," Drs. Katja Hoschler and Maria Zambon, wrote in an accompanying editorial. They are infections with the National Public Health Service of England.

The "best" features of the microneedle patch include its low cost, safety, comfort, storage and durability, they said.

"Microneedle patches have the potential to become ideal candidates for vaccination programs not only in the lack of resources in contexts but also for people who prefer not to get vaccinated," wrote the editorialists.

A flu expert agrees.

"The flu micronédélaire patch is easy to use - it can be self-administered and, like other drug patches, it is well absorbed through the skin," said Dr. Len Horovitz, pulmonary specialist Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.

"This development eliminates the need for an intramuscular injection [a flu vaccine] by a health professional," he added.

In addition, "this patch does not need to be refrigerated - it has a long life," Horovitz said. "Standard vaccines can lose energy if they are not refrigerated repeatedly, as in most settings."

SOURCE: Len Horovitz, MD, pulmonary specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital, New York; National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of the United States, press release, June 29, 2017