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Biosecurity BriefingNew Under-the-Tongue Influenza Vaccination Method Studied By Michelle Cantu, February 1, 2008 On January 29, 2008, the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) reported the results of a study that examines a new way of delivering influenza vaccines: sublingually, or under the tongue. The research group demonstrated that in mice, administering an influenza vaccine under the tongue provided "a new approach [that is] safer than nasal flu vaccination."1 The study was published in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).2 In the PNAS study, the authors report that this is "the first evidence that the sublingual route is highly efficient for influenza vaccine."2 According to the study, administration of influenza vaccine under the tongues of mice induces a systemic and mucosal antibody response as well as a T cell induced response, and when mice were challenged with an intranasal dose of influenza virus, both the live and inactivated sublingual vaccines provided protection. Furthermore, the PNAS study suggests that the live vaccine shows potential to provide cross-protection against multiple influenza strains. Finally, the authors concluded that sublingual administration of inactivated and live vaccine does not pose a risk to the central nervous system (CNS)—a potential concern with intranasal administration.2 Sublingual administration of the flu vaccine is a less invasive approach in comparison with needle sticks and nasal sprays. According to an Associated Press interview, "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," said Dr. Cecil Czerkinsky, deputy director-general for laboratory science at the institute.3 References
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