NurseWeek

Study: No needles needed for vaccinations

By Keith W. Murrow
Health24News
October 19, 2000


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Washington (H24N). Lose the needles: A study has found that patches applied to the skin are more effective in administering vaccinations.

The scientist who conducted the research, Tang Dechu, a dermatologist and professor at the University of Alabama, said the treatment opens the door to painless vaccinations.

"It is a new way to administer vaccinations without the hassle associated with needles," Dechu said.

Perhaps even more important is the effectiveness of the method. "In fact, the process of deep intramuscular injections of vaccines have been proven to be less potent the deeper the injections are administered."

"This new patch allows for a uniform delivery of the vaccine," he said.

Dechu’s theory is that the skin is constantly reacting to germs, acting as a barrier with countless immune cells in need of stimulation.

Normal vaccine compounds are too large for absorption through the skin, so Dechu devised a way to change the DNA in antigens already present on the skin to accept the vaccine. Once the patch is applied the skin develops an immune response and build ups a resistance.

In his research, which is being reviewed for publication in the journal Nature Medicine, Dechu was able to vaccinate monkeys successfully for influenza, hepatitis B, rabies, tetanus and malaria.