Related Experiment Videos
Intradermal administration of measles vaccines
J C de Moraes1, M E León, V A Souza
1Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Insights
Intradermal measles vaccination using bifurcated needles or multiple puncture devices showed low antibody responses in infants. These methods are not suitable for routine measles vaccine administration.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Measles vaccination is crucial for preventing a highly contagious viral disease.
- Alternative vaccine delivery methods are explored to improve efficacy and accessibility.
- Intradermal administration is a potential route for vaccine delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the suitability of bifurcated needles and multiple puncture cylinders for intradermal measles vaccine administration.
- To compare serologic responses and adverse reactions in infants receiving measles vaccines via different intradermal devices.
- To assess the feasibility of using devices designed for smallpox or BCG vaccination for measles immunization.
Main Methods:
- Infants aged 9-11 months received either Biken-Cam 70 or Edmonston-Zagreb measles vaccines intradermally.
- Vaccine delivery was performed using either a bifurcated needle or a multiple puncture cylinder.
- Measles IgG antibodies were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) before and 8 weeks after vaccination.
- Participants were monitored for adverse reactions 14 days post-vaccination.
Main Results:
- No serologic response was observed in infants who received the Biken-Cam vaccine.
- Edmonston-Zagreb vaccine recipients using the multiple puncture cylinder showed a 35% serologic response rate.
- Edmonston-Zagreb vaccine recipients using the bifurcated needle showed a 26% serologic response rate.
- Adverse reaction rates did not significantly differ across the vaccination groups.
Conclusions:
- Intradermal immunization with standard-titer measles vaccines using bifurcated needles or multiple puncture cylinders resulted in low serologic response rates.
- The tested intradermal devices and administration route are not recommended for routine measles vaccination.
- Further research may be needed to optimize intradermal delivery systems for measles vaccines.
Abstract:
The aim of the study reported here was to determine if bifurcated needles or multiple puncture cylinders would prove suitable for administration of measles vaccines. Children 9 to 11 months old in São Paulo, Brazil, were assigned to receive either Biken-Cam 70 (5,000 TCID50/0.5 ml) or Edmonston-Zagreb (7,000 TCID50/0.5 ml) measles vaccines intradermally with a bifurcated needle or a multiple puncture cylinder. These devices are usually used to administer smallpox or BCG vaccine. The volume of vaccine inoculated was approximately 0.003 ml. Measles IgG antibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at the time of vaccination and 8 weeks later. The study participants were examined 14 days after inoculation for possible adverse reactions. Overall, the children's average age was 9.5 +/- 0.66 months at vaccination. None of the 45 recipients of Biken-Cam vaccine responded serologically. The 49 Edmonston-Zagreb vaccine recipients immunized with the multiple puncture cylinder had a somewhat higher serologic response rate (35%) and mean concentration of measles antibodies (323 mIU/ml) than those 51 who received the same vaccine administered with the bifurcated needle (26% and 291 mIU/ml, respectively). The rates of reported symptoms after vaccination did not differ significantly among the groups. Overall, the low serologic response rates following intradermal immunization with for devices tested in this study indicate that this route of administration is not suitable for routine administration of standard-titer vaccines.