Could Flu Patch Prevent Health Issue in the Future?

A recent study suggests that a flu patch may be a possible option to prevent the health issue in the future.

According to researchers from the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University and CDC, they recruited close to 100 people to try out the prototype vaccine patch, which includes close to 50 microneedles instead of the standard, traditional needle. All of the needles are about as tall and thick as individual hair strands, according to background information from the study.

The researchers found that participants from the metropolitan Atlanta area in Georgia were very supportive of the prototype vaccine patch. Forty-six percent of them also said they would get the vaccination when using the current needle method, while the percentage jumped to 65 percent when the they were given the option to use it.

"If this holds for the population as a whole, that would have a tremendous impact on preventing disease and the cost associated with both influenza and the vaccination process," said Paula Frew, an assistant professor in the Emory University School of Medicine and a co-author of the study, via a press release.

"Our dream is that each year there would be flu vaccine patches available in stores or sent by mail for people to self-administer," said Mark Prausnitz, a Regent's professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology reported by the New York Daily News. "People could take them home and apply them to the whole family."

The researchers note that if the trials are successful, the vaccine could be available within the next five years. More information regarding the study can be found via the journal Vaccine.