Self Administrable Flu Vaccine

[hhfarang]

Similar to a nicotine patch, vaccines are being created now that are self administrable via patch:

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Each year in the United States, 5-20% of the population display symptoms of infection with the influenza virus. More than 110,000 of these persons are hospitalized and about 36,000 die from complications. While the spread of infection is generally avoidable through immunization, vaccine may be in short supply, logistics may limit distribution, compliance and lack of concern limit the immunized population and the vaccines are not as efficacious in the very old and very young. This year, a highly virulent avian influenza strain, designated H5N1, has spread rapidly throughout Asia and into Europe. Reports of human infections with H5N1 have increased the concern that this strain, or a recombinant with a virus that commonly infects humans, may expand its host range to infect humans and result in a global pandemic. A moderate pandemic could kill more than 30 million people around the world. A vaccine could be available within six months of recognition of a pandemic. However, influenza vaccine production is limited - only 300 million doses can be manufactured worldwide due to the difficulty in cultivating virus and capacity will take years to expand. Further, in the event of any widespread disease, rapid distribution to the population, insufficient healthcare personnel to administer the vaccine, lack of compliance due to needlestick phobia, and other issues may result in a poorly immunized population. The research proposed by Rocky Mountain Biosystems, Inc. in this application will demonstrate an innovative solution to achieve an immunized, protected population, addressing issues of limited supply, lack of access and compliance. The Self Administered Vaccination Electromechanical (SAVE) device gently and quickly reduces the stratum corneum, administers efficacious and consistent amounts of vaccine in minutes, and avoids creation of "sharps" that constitute biohazardous waste. The device is designed to increase the efficacy of drugs and vaccines, while reducing dosage and extending vaccine supplies. The device is small, inexpensive, self-administrable and can be stockpiled for rapid deployment in the case of a pandemic. The device is expected to 1) extend the vaccine supply as much as 20-fold by adaptation to the more efficient transcutaneous route of vaccine administration, 2) greatly improve compliance through self-administration without needles, and 3) be capable of rapid deployment to the populace. Furthermore, SAVE's transcutaneous delivery is expected to enhance cellular immunity versus intramuscular (IM) inoculation, potentially improving immunity in the very young and old. The SAVE technology may also extend the benefits of transdermal drug delivery to new drugs, such as the growing number of macromolecule drugs and fragile protein or peptide bond biopharmaceuticals. In this proposal, the investigators propose to build pre-clinical prototypes of the patch and test it in vitro and in vivo in a swine model, as well as testing impedance in humans.

[PeteC]

They probably need to take into account the .2% who will die because they swallow the device, think it's a suppository, OD by over-vaccinating themselves, or getting pirated devices of questionable quality in certain 3rd world countries. It does sound like a good idea though, especially if it can be ordered on-line and delivered. Needs some really good liability law written into it though for the aforementioned reasons, as for sure some people will abuse it. Pete

[HuntingTigers]

Hmm... Not a patch on the old reliable needle injection method.

HT

[MrPlum]

Why bother?

An article published in Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons in 2006 is highly critical of the CDC methods.

“The CDC and news media frequently proclaim that there are about 36,000 influenza-associated deaths annually. Review of the mortality data from the CDC’s National Vital Statistics System(NVSS) reveals these estimates are grossly exaggerated. The NVSS reports preliminary mortality statistics and distinguishes between influenza-related deaths and pneumonia-related mortality. When the final report is issued, influenza mortalities are combined with the far more frequent pneumonia deaths, yielding an exaggerated representation of influenza deaths. Pneumonia related mortality due to immunosuppression, AIDS, malnutrition, and a variety of other predisposing medical conditions is therefore combined with seasonal influenza deaths. The actual influenza related deaths for the years 1997 to 2002 ranged from 257 to 1,765 annually. These values are further overestimated by combining deaths from laboratory-confirmed influenza infections with cases lacking laboratory confirmation.”

[caller]

It's not just about avoiding death. For most its avoiding what can be a serious debilitating illness, as well as the cost of treatment, cost to the NHS, Doctors et al and time off work. Its a preventative. Not one I can benefit from sadly, as I'm allergic to egg, which is what the jab is based on.

[Big Boy]

I used to suffer a bout of flu most years. Since having the jab, I've had many flu free years. To me it's a no brainer - no flu, and I still wake up every morning. It certainly works for me.