Don't like needles? You may be in luck, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Researchers say they are making solid progress in coming up with a patch that can deliver the flu vaccine which is currently delivered by a standard flu shot into the body through the natural pores in the skin, using almost imperceptible needles.
Dr. Teja Guda, who is a medical researcher at UTSA, says it is truly a revolutionary concept, which has the potential to drastically increase vaccination rates.
"There is almost no pain, it doesn't even feel as bad as a mosquito bite," he said. "That means more people are likely to get it, because they won't be put off by the associated sting."
Dr. Guda says this also has the potential to overcome the growing 'anti-vaxxer' movement because it would eliminate the need for vaccinations completely in most cases.
"The less it would affect them in terms of any type of pain, the more it convinces people to go get flu shots," he said.
The technology, Dr. Guda says, has the potential to expand to other types of inoculations. He says it would particularly useful for patients who need 'maintainence medications,' like people who Type One Diabetes who require regular insulin injections.
"If we can get all of them these sticky patches, you have a lot more patient compliance," he said. "That gets them healthier overall."
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