Flu Vaccine Takes Needle-Free Form
By Amelia Nielson-Stowell Deseret Morning News
A new CO2 injection system might be helping to make every child’s dream come true — a needle-free vaccine.
The new Biojector 2000 device will be used for the first time in Utah at three day-long flu vaccination clinics through the Salt Lake Valley Health Department. The clinics will also serve as an emergency preparedness exercise in case a mass vaccination is needed for a wide-spread pandemic.
“We would be utilizing this same technology in the event that we had need for doing a mass number of individuals in a short period of time,” said Audrey Stevenson, director of family services for SLVHD. With the Biojector 2000, about 4,000 people could be vaccinated a day, she estimated. Previous needle-and-syringe estimates were about 2,500 people.
The health department demonstrated the new technology Thursday by injecting numerous health care workers. The FDA-approved device uses compressed carbon dioxide to push liquid medication through a tiny nozzle in a plastic tube, creating an ultra-fine stream to penetrate the skin. The injection takes about half a second.
“You notice, no screams,” Stevenon said after being injected. Based on surveys of Biojector 2000 patients, many said the needle- free injection hurt less or felt about the same as a shot given with a needle. Stevenson described it as being flicked.
“We’ve been in contact with other states and other local health departments that have had this technology and the community acceptance of this has been tremendous.”
Sue Nicodemus, SLVHD immunizations coordinator, said waste from immunization clinics accounts for about 90 percent of biohazardous material. But the Biojector 2000 will cut down on biohazardous waste because the needle-less syringes can merely be thrown away after they are used.
The new method is different from the FluMist because it can be used for all risk levels. The nasal vaccine FluMist, which was widely used last year during a flu vaccine shortage, can only be administered to healthy people age 5-49.
With a widespread worry over a potential pandemic of the deadly bird flu, Nicodemus said the current flu vaccination clinic will provide excellent training in case of a mass disease. “What if” situations like the bird flu, Nicodemus said, are “always on our radar screen.
“This will give us a great opportunity to increase what we need to improve on and help the public understand that if something were to happen, we’re ready.”
The SLVHD will offer flu vaccinations during three clinics, scheduled Oct. 15, Oct. 29 and Nov. 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Salt Lake County Government Center on 2001 S. State Street. The cost is $20 for the shot and $29 for FluMist. The first Saturday clinic, Oct. 15, will only be for high-risk individuals: children 6-23 months of age, seniors 65 years or older, residents of long-term care facilities, people with chronic health problems, people with weakened immune systems, women who will be pregnant during flu season, health care workers, out-of-home caretakers of infants younger than 6 months and household contacts of any high-risk individuals.
For more information, visit the SLVHD Web site at www.slvhealth.org or call 468-2086. Officials encourage residents to download the Flu Vaccination Registration Form and fill it out prior to the clinic.
E-mail: astowell@desnews.com