At current count, only about 1/2 of children and 1/3 of adults receive their yearly flu vaccinations. In an effort to bolster these numbers, developers have come up with a patch that administers the vaccination contents in a new way. The flu patch uses micro needles that spread out the poking sensation to reduce pain for patients. As a result, more patients report a willingness to try this type of vaccination over the other options. Read on to learn more information.
Reap The Benefits
The most obvious benefit is the reduction of pain while receiving the initial vaccination. Although the flu patch uses a series of thirty to fifty ultra tiny needles, patients reportedly do not feel much or any pain during the application process. In fact, the sensation is so insignificant that patients can place the patch on themselves without issue.
The ability to administer the vaccination without a nurse or doctor also increases the likelihood of patients receiving their yearly flu shot. Since the flu is a serious condition that can result in death, especially in extremely young and old patients, it's important to increase vaccination compliance across the entire population.
Self Administration
Reap The Benefits
The most obvious benefit is the reduction of pain while receiving the initial vaccination. Although the flu patch uses a series of thirty to fifty ultra tiny needles, patients reportedly do not feel much or any pain during the application process. In fact, the sensation is so insignificant that patients can place the patch on themselves without issue.
The ability to administer the vaccination without a nurse or doctor also increases the likelihood of patients receiving their yearly flu shot. Since the flu is a serious condition that can result in death, especially in extremely young and old patients, it's important to increase vaccination compliance across the entire population.
Self Administration
Researchers put a lot of time and effort into developing a foolproof application process by using dye on the needles. With each poke, researchers could see if all of the needles made contact with the skin with a single press. To help patients confirm correct placement, researchers created an audible application pad that clicks when the needles make complete contact. After the needles enter the skin, they dissolve to release the killed viral antigens and complete the process. After a few minutes, patients can remove the flu patch and forget about the whole process until the next flu season approaches.
Testing, Testing
An initial study confirmed the viability of using patches to administer flu vaccines. The study group expressed positive reactions to the process and potential for increasing vaccination compliance for themselves and their families.
Researchers also tested the patches on mice to make sure the vaccine would last the entire year, as the other flu vaccination delivery methods generally do. Findings from that study indicated that the immune response was actually improved over traditional flu shot methods. The last round of testing will be performed on humans to confirm these initial results.
Future Release
The human based studies will go through several steps over the course of five years to make sure the flu patch vaccine will meet the stringent standards held for all routes of vaccine administration. If the vaccine passes the final tests, the public should be able to obtain the flu patches by 2019 or 2020. Like traditional flu shots, patients must obtain a newly developed flu patch each year to receive protection against the annual bugs, strains or viruses that circulate each season.
However, the ability to quickly stick the flu patch on the skin without feeling a jolt of pain will likely increase the number of flu shot administrations each year. As a result, influenza disease and the complications that stem from influenza disease may lessen across the globe, which could eliminate illness and suffering in many groups which are currently not receiving an annual flu shot.
Testing, Testing
An initial study confirmed the viability of using patches to administer flu vaccines. The study group expressed positive reactions to the process and potential for increasing vaccination compliance for themselves and their families.
Researchers also tested the patches on mice to make sure the vaccine would last the entire year, as the other flu vaccination delivery methods generally do. Findings from that study indicated that the immune response was actually improved over traditional flu shot methods. The last round of testing will be performed on humans to confirm these initial results.
Future Release
The human based studies will go through several steps over the course of five years to make sure the flu patch vaccine will meet the stringent standards held for all routes of vaccine administration. If the vaccine passes the final tests, the public should be able to obtain the flu patches by 2019 or 2020. Like traditional flu shots, patients must obtain a newly developed flu patch each year to receive protection against the annual bugs, strains or viruses that circulate each season.
However, the ability to quickly stick the flu patch on the skin without feeling a jolt of pain will likely increase the number of flu shot administrations each year. As a result, influenza disease and the complications that stem from influenza disease may lessen across the globe, which could eliminate illness and suffering in many groups which are currently not receiving an annual flu shot.
Author Bio: Jeff Shjarback, MBA is a Digital Marketing Strategy Consultant that has worked as a Vaccine Specialist and Biological Products Specialist. Jeff enjoys blogging about digital marketing, small business, lead generation, economics, innovation & emerging technology, future trend analysis and business philosophy. Jeff is one of the main contributors to FluPatch.org. To learn more about Jeff, you can visit his Google Author Profile.
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