Global Security Newswire

An emerging line of vaccination delivery mechanisms that do not use needles could offer advantages in responding to a possible intentional release of disease material, NBC News reported on Monday.

The systems -- now under development at various public, business and academic institutions -- could eventually offer a means of distributing treatments by postal delivery, according to NBC. They might retain their potency at room temperature, potentially making them less expensive and complicated to give out than the majority of conventional vaccinations.

“The early studies they have that are published give us an indication that it might result in a better response in a shorter amount of time than some of the current vaccines,” said Martin Crumrine, a biological defense expert with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

“It’s much easier to give a tablet or two than it is to assemble people to give them injections,” Crumrine added.

The California-based biotechnology firm PaxVax is pursuing a pill-based alternative to the existing anthrax vaccination, which must be administered through five shots.