The Flu. Instead of a Shot Vaccine, Liquid Under the Tongue

Jan 29, 07:12 AM

By Randolph E. Schmid

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Relief may be on the way for youngsters trembling at the thought of another needle jab. One day the flu vaccine may simply be placed under the tongue .

Korean researchers say the new vaccine worked in mice, avoiding not only the painful prick but also the discomfort some people feel from the inhaled vaccine.

The team led by Dr. Mi-Na Kweon of the International Vaccine Institute in Seoul reported their findings in Monday's online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Better ways of delivering vaccine, such as orally or inhaled, have long been under study, but all seem to have drawbacks.

Now, Kweon and colleagues say, two doses of influenza vaccine under the tongue of mice primed the animals' immune system to fight off what would otherwise have been a deadly dose of flu.

Next, they are turning their attention to people, to see if the under-the-tongue vaccine also prompts a strong immune response.

Placing a couple of drops of liquid under the tongue gets the vaccine directly to mucus membranes and prompts a response both in mucus tissues throughout the body as well as in the immune system itself, the researchers said.

"These studies provide a basis for further human testing of this alternative form of needle-free vaccination ," said Dr. Cecil Czerkinsky, deputy director-general for laboratory science at the institute. "Aside from its convenience, sublingual vaccination appears to disseminate immunity to a broader range of organs than the classical routes of injecting or ingesting vaccines."

"If these findings are replicated in humans, they could pave the way for the development of a new generation of vaccines that could be used for mass vaccination against respiratory infections, including the pandemic avian-human influenza viruses," he said in a statement.

Several research efforts applying vaccine to mucus membranes have been tried, seeking to avoid both the needle sticks that people dislike and the harsh environment of the digestive system that can damage or destroy a vaccine. Studies of under-the-tongue application of other medicines have also been done.

The under-the-tongue vaccine worked whether it was a live or inactivated virus, Kweon reported. And, she added, it could also be flavored to make it easier to swallow.

The research was financed by the governments of South Korea, Sweden and Kuwait.

the findings

Two doses of influenza vaccine under the tongue of mice primed the animals' immune system to fight off what would otherwise have been a deadly dose of flu. Researchers will next see if the under- the-tongue vaccine prompts a strong immune response in humans. other studies

Studies of under-the-tongue application of other medicines have also been done.

(c) 2008 Virginian - Pilot. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved. The Flu. Instead of a Shot Vaccine, Liquid Under the Tongue
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