Scientists from the University of Queensland found a needle-free vaccine patch could better fight COVID-19 variants, such as Omicron and Delta, than a traditional needle vaccine.
The research is published in Vaccine and was conducted by Dr. Christopher McMillan et al.
In the study, the researchers teamed with Brisbane biotechnology company Vaxxas to test the Hexapro SARS-CoV-2 spike vaccine using the Vaxxas high-density microarray patch (HD-MAP) technology.
They found the patch was far more effective at neutralizing COVID-19 variants.
Vaccination via a patch was approximately 11 times more effective at combatting the Omicron variant when compared with the same vaccine administered via a needle.
The team says the vaccine patch appeared to counteract new variants more effectively than the current SARs-CoV-2 vaccine delivered by injection.
The high-density microarray patch is a vaccine delivery platform that precisely delivers the vaccine into the layers of the skin which are rich in immune cells.
The researchers say that so far, every vaccine type we have tested through the patch, including subunit, DNA, inactivated virus and conjugate produces superior immune responses compared to traditional needle vaccination methods.
Currently, available vaccines may not be as effective because of the constantly emerging new variants of COVID-19, and this has left researchers at a crossroads.
This decreased effectiveness was highlighted by the Omicron variant, which contains over 30 mutations in the spike protein.
The patch technology has the potential to offer a new – and more effective – weapon in our arsenal, at a time when new variants are mutating at a rapid rate.
The patches are not only more effective against emerging variants but are also far easier to administer than needle-based vaccines.
The team also stresses that existing vaccines are still an effective way of combatting serious illness and disease from this virus and it is not the time to drop our guard.
If you care about COVID, please read studies about antiviral drug that could stop COVID-19, and scientists find antibodies that block all the COVID-19 variants.
For more information about COVID, please see recent studies that female leadership led to fewer COVID-19 deaths, and results showing new COVID vaccine made of zinc and copper supplements could prevent disease.
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