Morayfield trial for needle-free flu vaccine

Clinical trials for needle-free flu vaccinations are about to start in Morayfield, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

The University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) has partnered with Vaxxas, developers of the high-density microarray patch (HD-MAP), for influenza trials.

It follows a similar study in 2021 for measles and rubella - and currently for COVID-19.

Vaxxas Chief Technology Officer Dr Angus Forster said the study would look into the safety and tolerability of an influenza vaccine delivered using HD-MAP technology.

He said the study, with of participating volunteers, would assess if it provides an immune response comparable to a standard intramuscular dose by needle and syringe.

“We are pleased to be partnering again with the team at UniSC Clinical Trials to undertake a Phase One study of an influenza vaccine using our HD-MAP technology,” Dr Forster said.

“We hope to demonstrate that delivering an influenza vaccine using our HD-MAP technology can potentially be just as effective as the traditional intramuscular vaccine needle injection.”

The trial will be led by Dr Nischal Sahai at the UniSC Clinical Trials clinic at South Bank, Brisbane.

“It’s very exciting to be working with innovative Australian vaccination technology that could potentially change the way vaccines are administered around the world,” Dr Sahai said.

“HD-MAP technology could mean that vaccines no longer need to be refrigerated, making it easier to transport them safely to people in remote locations.

The study requires healthy volunteers aged 18-50 years, in good general health and having a body mass index within the range of 18-32.

Participants will visit the UniSC Clinical Trials clinics at South Bank or Sippy Downs about six times over a two-and-a-half-month period.

Those interested in participating can find more information here