Vaccinating against influenza in children without needles: A new initiative

Issue title: Influenza: Epidemiology, treatment and prevention

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Kendall, Mark

Affiliations: Delivery of Drugs and Genes Group (D2G2), Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Note: [] Correspondence: Professor Mark Kendall, The University of Queensland, Delivery of Drugs and Genes Group (D2G2), Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia. Tel.: +61 7 334 64265; E-mail: m.kendall@ug.edu.au

Abstract: Young children are of the highest hospital admission rate of all influenza cases. A broad and effective rollout of influenza vaccines for children is hindered by the current most common method of administration: the needle and syringe. Limitations include: reduced compliance due to needle-phobia; increased costs due to maintaining refrigeration due to transportation and storage (the "cold chain"); the need for qualified medical/nursing practitioners – to help reduce risk of unsafe injections and needle-stick injuries; and potentially impeded immunity – by delivery to muscle and not accessing the abundant antigen presenting cell populations resident in skin and mucosal surfaces. This paper explores needle-free routes to improved childhood influenza vaccines rollout, by being a practical device for self-administration that has also generated significantly-improved immunogenicity and also the removal of the cold chain (through dry-formulation). Marketed devices targeting the mucosa through intranasal delivery (of liquid vaccine) are analysed, together with skin-targeting approaches currently in development – offering both improved immunogenicity and cold-chain removal by formulating the vaccine in a solid form.

Keywords: Vaccinating against influenza, children

DOI: 10.3233/JPI-120349

Journal: Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 83-88, 2012