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A Skin Patch To Deliver The COVID-19 Vaccine
A healthcare worker at UCI Health Center is vaccinated against COVID-19. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
Local researchers are working to turn the COVID-19 vaccine into an easy-to-deliver skin patch.
Similar to nicotine patches used to quit smoking, such liquid-coated swaths are already used for vaccine administration to guard against other illnesses.
Dr. Lbachir BenMohamed, who is leading the research at UC Irvine's School of Medicine, said that switching the coronavirus vaccine from an injection to a patch will make distribution easier.
“Delivering the vaccine is six times more expensive than the vaccine itself,” he said. “If we come up with something that you can just put in an envelope and ship it to a remote area, I think that is going to be a game changer.”
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A vaccine patch would also eliminate the need for the constant cold storage currently required for some of the approved vaccines.
BenMohamed’s lab started testing the vaccine patch with mice late last week. If the trials are successful, the patch will be submitted to the Food and Drug Administration.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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