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