You know it’s necessary, but watching baby get poked and prodded can be the toughest part about having her vaccinated. New research from Japan might be able to alleviate your pain, both mental and physical.
A team from Osaka University created a dissolvable patch to administer flu vaccines. Tiny (painless) microneedles in the patch penetrate the top layer of skin, administering the vaccination as they dissolve into the body.
Because it can be administered without medical personnel, and because it eliminates needle-related risks, researchers are especially optimistic about its role in supporting vaccinations in developing countries.
The patch, called MicroHyala, is applied like a plaster. The first vaccination system of its kind, it’s been proven risk-free and effective among test subjects. It’s currently only been designed with different strains of influenza, but remember, babies can receive flu shots from 6 months on.
Will other standard immunizations, like MMR or RV, be next?
