Microneedle flu vaccine is a vaccine used in both adults and children at least 6 months old, to prevent infection caused by influenza virus. Influenza virus spread when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk, sending droplets with the virus into the air and potentially into the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the flu caused around 9 to 41 million illnesses, 140,000-710,000 hospitalizations, and 12,000 to 52,000 deaths every year, between 2010 and 2020, in the U.S.
Thus, there is an increasing demand for flu vaccine in this region. The vaccine helps body to develop immunity to the disease. In November 2021, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a multi-dose vial platform for Influenza A(H5N1) Monovalent Vaccine, Adjuvanted (AUDENZ) for patients 6 months and older against influenza A(H5N1) in the event of a pandemic. The microneedle flu vaccine uses a weakened or deactivated version of the virus to train the body to recognize an antigen on the surface of the virus.
This in turn helps the immune system develop antibodies that will fight the flu. Micro-needles are new form of dose delivery systems, which can overcome various problems associated with the conventional formulations. The main principle of micro-needling involves disruption of the skin layer, creating a micron-sized route for drug delivery, in which drugs can be transferred easily from the upper dermis or epidermis directly into the systemic circulation without facing any barrier. A skin patch with dissolving microneedles works as well as a regular flu shot to deliver the flu vaccine to people.
Most influenza shots are given in an arm muscle with a microneedle. Thus, with the increasing prevalence of Influenza, the demand for microneedles is also increasing. Microneedles provide an alternative to conventional needle-and-syringe immunization, and offer improved safety, acceptability, simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and immunogenicity.
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