MEDICAL SCIENCE

A PATCH could replace the annual flu jab, research suggests.

In future, the patches could be sent out in the post, enabling people to quickly and easily vaccinate themselves without having to queue at the GPs surgery, experts have said.

A trial of the patch by US scientists at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, found it worked as well as a jab and was preferred by patients.

The study, published this week in the Lancet medical journal, also revealed it could be safely stored for a year without a fridge – meaning it could easily be distributed to patients to administer to themselves.

The device, measuring roughly one inch in diameter, contains the same vaccine as is given in conventional flu injections.

But it can be self-administered by simply placing on the wrist for 20 minutes and then removed.

The patch contains 100 tiny ‘microneedles’ which pierce the top layer of the skin.

The needles dissolve while they are in the skin, meaning there is no danger of piercing a second patient and passing on bloodborne diseases – a major safety fear when people inject themselves without professional medical supervision.

Experts said the device could significantly improve uptake of the flu vaccination.

The disease kills 5,000 people in England each year, and the vast majority of victims are elderly or suffer from existing respiratory conditions.

For this reason, the NHS encourages anyone over the age of 65 to have an annual influenza jab.

Younger people who are considered at risk – including all pregnant women, young children aged two, three and four, and anyone with asthma or other conditions – are also offered the vaccine.

However, uptake of the jab is poor, and falling. Only 71 per cent of over-65s had the vaccine in 2015/16, along with just 42 per cent of pregnant women, roughly a third of young children, and less than half of people with existing health conditions.

Experts said alternative ways of delivering the vaccine might improve take-up – particularly among those afraid of needles or too busy to go to the GP.

Researchers tested the patch on 100 people who had chosen not to receive the flu vaccine.

They found that after six months, no serious side effects linked to the vaccine were reported and there were no cases of influenza.

As well as this, participants reported high ‘acceptability’ scores of between 4.5 and 4.8 out of five, with some 70 per cent saying they preferred it to the injection.

Study leader Dr Nadine Rouphael said: ‘Despite the recommendations for adults and children to receive a flu shot, many people remain unvaccinated. The patch could be safely applied by participants themselves, meaning we could envisage vaccination at home, in the work place, or even via mail distribution.

‘These advantages could reduce the cost of the flu vaccine and potentially increase coverage.

‘Our findings now need confirming in larger trials.’

Experts in Britain welcomed the study, saying the patches could be particularly useful for children.

Dr Maria Zambon, director of reference microbiology at Public Health England, said: ‘This is a good early research and we await more tests on these patches to see their effectiveness.

‘Microneedle patches have the potential to be used for vaccination programmes and could help people scared of needles.’

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