Scientists are working on a vaccine implant that will deliver all vaccines on a time-released basis. This means: no more shots required.

The idea of having no shots is a radical one. And a very improved one too. Many people have needle phobia. Taking away an entire series of injections and replacing it with just one procedure makes a lot of sense.

The vaccine implant concept is simple. A doctor inserts a small tablet into your arm. While that sounds really unpleasant, remember it's only once. You then get a prescription for several pills which will take specific days to activate doses of a vaccine. Every time you swallow a pill, the plant will release a dose. After you completed the vaccination sequence, the implant will dissolve.

The scientists at the University of Minnesota created a hydrogel capsule that responds to fluoresceins - a dye used for medical tests. They put HPV inside the capsules and inserted them into mice. The mice were given a pill containing fluorescein, which then activated the capsule to release a small dose of HPV.

The experiment was successful, and the mice with the implants gained the same immunity as mice that were given an actual HPV vaccination.

For now, the implant only works with a single dose of vaccine. The best practical case for this is to build one that can work on multiple doses. The hydrogel also needs to last long enough for the full series of vaccinations.

Just a few more kinks here and there. Needle-less vaccinations, here we come.

[Wired Credit: Wiki Commons]