Scientists have developed a tiny 3D-printed microneedle vaccine patch that could offer a pain-free alternative to needles.
In trials on mice, it offered a 10-fold greater immune response and a 50-fold greater T-cell and antigen-specific antibody response compared with a needle in the arm.
The polymer patch, which is smaller than a 5p coin, needs lower doses and could be mailed to people's homes and self-administered, eliminating the need for trained medical personnel.
It also offers an 'anxiety-free' vaccination option for people who have a 'needle phobia', also known as trypanophobia, which is putting some off getting their Covid jabs.
The researchers are yet to conduct clinical trials of the patch on humans, which could pave the way for a new way of administering vaccines in the future.
The new vaccine patch has been developed by researchers at Stanford University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
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