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Vaccinations

Vaccinations

Drug Delivery: Parenteral Route

Drug Delivery: Parenteral Route

The parenteral route is a critical method of drug administration. It delivers compounds directly into the systemic circulation and bypasses the gastrointestinal tract. This approach is particularly advantageous for drugs that exhibit poor absorption or instability when administered orally.
There are three primary parenteral routes: intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and subcutaneous (SC). The IV route introduces the drug directly into the bloodstream, ensuring immediate action. The IM route...

Routes of Drug Administration: Parenteral

Routes of Drug Administration: Parenteral

The administration of drugs via parenteral routes allows for direct drug introduction into the systemic circulation, resulting in high bioavailability because the medication bypasses the harsh conditions of the gastrointestinal tract and hepatic metabolism.
The intravenous route (IV) of drug administration can be further categorized into two types. The bolus injection administers the entire dose rapidly, while an intravenous infusion slowly delivers smaller doses steadily.
The IV route is often...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 7, 2025

Intralymphatic Immunotherapy and Vaccination in Mice

Intralymphatic Immunotherapy and Vaccination in Mice

Published on: February 2, 2014

Subcutaneous vaccine administration - an outmoded practice.

¹Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.

Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics

|September 29, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Intramuscular (IM) vaccine injection significantly reduces local adverse events and may improve immune response compared to subcutaneous (SC) delivery. This supports a shift towards IM administration for most vaccines to enhance safety and efficacy.

Keywords:

Literature review immunogenicity intramuscular local reactogenicity outmoded practice subcutaneous vaccine administration

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Intralymphatic Immunotherapy and Vaccination in Mice

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Area of Science:

Immunology
Vaccinology
Public Health

Background:

Subcutaneous vaccine administration is an outdated practice associated with local adverse events following immunization (AEFIs).
AEFIs are a significant factor in vaccine hesitancy and refusal, potentially increasing vaccine-preventable disease prevalence.
Current practices complicate vaccine administration recommendations.

Purpose of the Study:

To review evidence comparing local adverse events and immune responses between subcutaneous (SC) and intramuscular (IM) vaccine administration.
To provide evidence-based recommendations for optimizing vaccine delivery methods.

Main Methods:

Extensive narrative review of scientific literature.
Analysis of high-grade and moderate-grade evidence regarding vaccine administration routes.

Main Results:

Intramuscular (IM) administration of all vaccine types significantly reduces local adverse events compared to SC injection.
Moderate evidence suggests IM injection generates a greater immune response than SC injection.
BCG and Rotavirus vaccines are exceptions to the IM recommendation.

Conclusions:

Strong recommendation for IM injection of all vaccines, except BCG and Rotavirus, to minimize local adverse events.
Shifting to IM administration can simplify vaccination practices and reduce inadvertent misadministration.
Improved public trust in vaccination may result from simplified and safer administration methods.