DARIEN, Conn. A fear of needles can sometimes keep people from getting a flu vaccine, but the Darien Health Department is now offering a way for people to get the vaccine without dealing with needles. On October 6 Darien will be the first town in Connecticut to offer a new needle-free method of vaccine delivery.
"It looks like something out of Star Trek," said Darien Health Director David Knauf, describing the plastic spring-loaded device that pressurizes an injection of the vaccine through the skin. "There's no difference in the vaccine, just how it's administered."
The device is called Pharmajet and has been approved by the FDA. Knauf is very confident that the system will take off, and might buy one or two of them to keep on hand.
"Kids especially are frightened to death of needles. When we have these flu clinics sometimes they're screaming their heads off, which can be disruptive and scare the other kids. I saw this and thought, 'Let's see how this works out.'"
Knauf thinks that the needle-free system can have practical applications beyond Darien, particularly in third-world countries where needles used to deliver medicine are sometimes shared.
"This helps get away from that significant public health hazard," he said. It also removes the problem of having to deal with needle disposal.
In addition to the new needle-free vaccine, the Darien Health Department will also be offering a higher dose vaccine for people over 65. "Many seniors' immune systems aren't as prone to develop antibodies," Knauf said. The high dose vaccine is specifically designed with more antigens to help senior citizens fight the flu.
The clinic will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on October 6 at Darien Town Hall. The vaccine, which is preservative-free, is $30 and available to anyone over the age of three.
Follow The Daily Darien on Facebook and Twitter.
Click here to follow Daily Voice and receive free news updates.
