Vaccine without Needles
Scientists have developed a new technology to delivery vaccines through dissolvable films. This may eliminate the need for injecting the vaccines and also it’s the expensive refrigeration.
Ecological Footprint of Immunisation Campaign
Though the vaccination rates have improved globally, a lot of people get left out. In 2018, 13.5 million children were not vaccinated. Global immunisation campaigns are essential to protect the population from vaccine preventable disease. However, these campaigns leave a large ecological foot print in the form of syringes, sharp wastes and non-hazardous wastes like swabs, vials, packaging, etc.
Film-based Vaccine Delivery
The new technology developed by scientists make use of dissolvable films to deliver vaccines orally. The live viruses and other biological medication are sandwiched in a peel-able film that does not require refrigeration. The technology has already been demonstrated as proof of concept for model vaccines for H1N1 and Ebola.
Advantages
- It addresses the issue of the waste generation and disposal (both hazardous and non-hazardous) that comes with vaccination campaign.
- Eliminates the need for needle-based delivery.
- It will drastically reduce storage and shipping costs which usually constitutes nearly 40% of the vaccine’s cost.
- Nearly 1/1000th the size of vaccine vials- easy to ship and distribute.
- Doesn’t require refrigeration.
- Materials for the film manufacture are inexpensive.
