The jab-free vaccine you can get in the post


The vaccine comes in the form of a skin patch that you can be sent by post

Need a vaccination but hate needles, or just can't get an appointment at your local GP? Scientists believe they have found the solution: a 'needle-free' vaccine that could be sent to you through the post.

The vaccine comes in the form of a skin patch and, unlike conventional vaccinations, can be self-administered.

The patch, which has been developed by scientists at the University of Queensland, has recently been tested on animals and results soon to be published show it is even more effective than traditional needle vaccination, despite requiring far less vaccine.

The scientists behind the innovation claim it could even be mailed to individuals in the event of a health pandemic.

The patch is the size of a 5p piece, but needs to be applied to the skin for only a few minutes to be effective. This is because it contains thousands of tiny projections - coated in the vaccine - on its underside.

These projections push through the outer layer of skin to the thin layer beneath, which is rich in cells crucial to the immune system.

Once these cells are activated they help the body develop an immunity to the disease.

Professor Mark Kendall, the lead scientist on the project, explains: 'Most vaccines are injected into the muscle and work by stimulating immune cells to fight.

'But the difference is that in the layer just under the surface of the skin there are far more immune cells - in fact, it is packed with them - so by getting the vaccine in here you get a much better response and you only need a fraction of the dose.'

Unlike vaccines currently in use, the patch - known as the Nanopatch - doesn't need refrigeration.

It also avoids the risk of injuries (accidentally being pricked by a used needle) or cross contamination (using the same needle twice), making it particularly beneficial in the developing world.

The Nanopatches are also potentially much cheaper.

They are made with existing technology, and use a far smaller dose of vaccine. The researchers in Queensland are part of a global network of scientists developing skin patches as a way of administering drugs.

Among other things, patches can already be used for contraception, hormone replacement and pain relief.

Experts say developing-skin patches for vaccines has proved more difficult because, unlike other drugs, vaccine molecules are too big to penetrate skin easily.

'There is a lot of work going on within academic groups and drug companies into the technology of patches for vaccines,' says Dr James Birchall from The Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff (which has just received a grant of $3.6 million from the U.S. government to look into a patch to protect against pandemic influenza.)

'We need to breach the skin in the right way to allow the vaccine to diffuse properly - it sounds simple, but it's actually very difficult.'

The patch could even lead to vaccinations for diseases such as TB, HIV and malaria, says Professor Kendall.

'The hunt to find the right vaccine for these diseases has moved forward, but progress has been hindered by the fact that vaccine material has had to be injected,' he explains.

But, according to experts, the patch won't be available for a while.

'I imagine we are years away from a vaccine patch on the market because it has to be seen to be comparable to injections both in terms of effectiveness and side-effects and that takes years of clinical trials,' says Dr George Kassiano from The Royal College of GPs.

'I am pleased the technology is there, and welcome it, but it will take time.'

The jab-free vaccine you can get in the post