As countries worldwide continue to roll out vaccinations to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, problems regarding the storage and efficacy of the vaccines have been encountered by many. In an attempt to remedy these problems, some scientists have begun to seek possible alternatives to the vaccine which are more convenient and, at the same time, reap the same benefits as the traditional vaccines.
What is a skin patch?
A solution that seems to have stood out from all the others is one formulated by Dr. David Muller and his colleagues, a COVID-19 skin patch. This centimeter-wide patch has 5000 tiny plastic spikes which are coated with a dried formula of the vaccine that is more stable than its liquid counterpart.
To administer the vaccine, the patch simply needs to be pressed onto the upper layer of the skin, compared to the traditional vaccine needle which inflicts more pain onto the skin. Furthermore, Dr. Muller states that highly trained medical professionals are not particularly needed in administering the vaccine due to the simplicity of the process.
According to Dr. Muller, the patch can evoke a stronger immune response due to the high amount of immune cells present in the skin. This way, only a sixth of the normal vaccine dose is needed to produce a strong immune response.
HexaPro vaccine
As of the moment, the skin patches are being tested with another vaccine brand called HexaPro. Unlike other brands, a HexaPro vaccine is stored at a temperature of 25°C if stored for a month and 40°C if stored for a week.
Compared to the Pfizer vaccine, for example, which needs to be stored between 2°C and 8°C for a month, the HexaPro vaccine is much easier to store due to its storage temperature being only a few degrees above room temperature.
Vaccine trials
As of the moment, the patch has only been experimented on mice. Those that were given the patch developed more coronavirus antibodies than those given the vaccine even after only 1 dose.
Human trials are expected to start around April next year. If approved, these vaccine skin patches can change the game for vaccinations all around the world.
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