Scientists at Stanford University and the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill have developed a new technology that has the potential to revolutionise vaccine administration.  The scientists have created a 3D printed vaccine patch that is as small as the tip of the finger and claimed to have the ability to provide "greater protection" than a traditional vaccine shot.

The vaccine patch includes microneedles which are just long enough to adhere to the skin and then targets immune cells directly.  As said in the UNC's website, "The resulting immune response from the vaccine patch was 10 times greater than a vaccine delivered into an arm muscle with a needle jab, according to a study conducted in animals and published by the team of scientists in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences." 

This patch is also painless, self-administrable and does not require to be kept in the freezer. According to the developers, all of these benefits should make the vaccines more efficient and easier to deploy around the world.  

The coronavirus pandemic has served as a harsh reminder of the impact that timely immunisation can have. A vaccination, on the other hand, usually necessitates a trip to a clinic or hospital.  Healthcare workers are assigned to store and administer the jabs. 

Although it appears to be a straightforward operation, there are a number of obstacles that can obstruct mass vaccination, ranging from the required cold storage to the necessity for qualified experts to administer the shots—we have seen the shortage of healthcare professionals during the pandemic.