Risk Management and Healthcare Policy (May 2021)

Intradermal Vaccination: A Potential Tool in the Battle Against the COVID-19 Pandemic?

  • Migliore A,
  • Gigliucci G,
  • Di Marzo R,
  • Russo D,
  • Mammucari M

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 14
pp. 2079 – 2087

Abstract

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Alberto Migliore,1 Gianfranco Gigliucci,1 Raffaele Di Marzo,2 Domenico Russo,3 Massimo Mammucari4 1Department of Internal Medicine, Unit of Rheumatology, San Pietro Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Rome, Italy; 2Italian Society of Mesotherapy, Rome, Italy; 3“San Marco” Hospice and Palliative Care, Latina, Italy; 4Primary Care Unit ASL RM 1, Rome, ItalyCorrespondence: Alberto Migliore Email [email protected]: This narrative review is the final output of an initiative of the SIM (Italian Society of Mesotherapy). A narrative review of scientific literature on the efficacy of fractional intradermal vaccination in comparison with full doses has been conducted for the following pathogens: influenza virus, rabies virus, poliovirus (PV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis A virus (HAV), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis bacterias (DTP), human papillomavirus (HPV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JE), meningococcus, varicella zoster virus (VZV) and yellow fever virus. The findings suggest that the use of the intradermal route represents a valid strategy in terms of efficacy and efficiency for influenza, rabies and HBV vaccines. Some systematic reviews on influenza vaccines suggest the absence of a substantial difference between immunogenicity induced by a fractional ID dose of up to 20% and the IM dose in healthy adults, elderly, immunocompromised patients and children. Clinical studies of remaining vaccines against other pathogens (HAV, DTP bacterias, JE, meningococcal disease, VZV, and yellow fever virus) are scarce, but promising. In the context of a COVID-19 vaccine shortage, countries should investigate if a fractional dosing scheme may help to save doses and achieve herd immunity quickly. SIM urges the scientific community and health authorities to investigate the potentiality of fractionate intradermal administration in anti-COVID-19 vaccination.Keywords: vaccination, intradermal, COVID-19, dose sparing

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