Vaccines could soon be given by sending patches by post, which would effectively mean the end of the childhood jab.
A groundbreaking study found that the patches – which penetrate the skin painlessly – were as effective as conventional injections against measles and rubella.
Doctors hope the pain-free alternative to a needle and syringe will encourage more parents to get their children vaccinated, preventing outbreaks like those in the West Midlands and London.
The patches do not need to be administered by trained medical staff, potentially taking responsibility away from GP practices, the findings suggest.
The vaccine is known as microarray patches and comes with a series of microscopic projections that penetrate the top layer of the skin instead of a conventional injection.
A groundbreaking study found that the patches – which penetrate the skin painlessly – were as effective as conventional injections against measles and rubella. In the photo a young Gambian child with a microarray patch on the wrist
The patches do not need to be administered by trained medical staff, potentially taking responsibility away from GP practices, the findings suggest. In the photo, a health worker in Gambia holds up a microarray patch of the type used in the study
While liquid vaccines require constant refrigeration to remain effective – in addition to trained professionals to inject and safely dispose of the syringes – the patches are more thermostable, easier to transport and require minimal training to administer.
This would make deliveries to hard-to-reach areas in Britain – and globally – much easier, according to the findings published in the Lancet.
The study involved 120 babies aged between nine and 10 months, 120 toddlers aged between 15 and 18 months and 45 adults aged between 18 and 40 in Gambia.
Placed on the arm, they found that the microarray patch induced an immune response that was as strong as the response when the vaccine was administered through a needle.
More than nine in ten infants were protected against measles and all infants were protected against rubella after a single dose of the vaccine administered through the microarray patch.
Millions of children worldwide have received the measles and rubella vaccine used in the study by conventional injection and it is known to provide reliable protection.
But in the first trial testing the microarray patches, they were found to be just as effective and there were no safety concerns.
In low-resource settings, this method is easier to transport and would eliminate or greatly reduce the need for vaccine refrigeration, both of which pose major obstacles to reaching remote areas in sub-Saharan Africa.
Unlike conventional needles and syringes, the microarray patches are not at risk of needlestick injuries that can transmit infections such as hepatitis and HIV.
Professor Ed Clarke, a pediatrician leading the Vaccinations and Immunity theme at MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM and co-author, said: ‘Although still early days, these are extremely promising results that have created a lot of excitement.
‘They demonstrate for the first time that vaccines can be given safely and effectively to babies and young children using microarray patch technology.
‘Measles vaccines are the top priority for delivery under this approach, but delivery of other vaccines using microarray patches is now also realistic. Watch this space.’
The researchers say larger trials of microarray patches are now being planned to inform decisions on whether to recommend the patches for widespread use in childhood vaccination programs.
He added: ‘It’s certainly being looked at for numerous vaccines, including flu and Covid, which could even lead to patches in the post in the future that people could apply themselves.’