It was revealed on Friday that the federal government will seriously examine incorporating a needle-free injection method into its immunisation delivery system.
Among other things, the decision might be motivated by an estimated $49.51 million in savings over the following five years.
The technology’s widespread adoption may have contributed to the government’s optimism regarding its deployment, as it has been shown to be beneficial in reducing pain, lowering infection risks, boosting compliance, and minimising medical waste.
This came after the TROPIS Project’s dissemination meeting in Abuja on Friday, a multi-year project that evaluated the effectiveness of the Tropis device, a World Health Organisation (WHO)-pre-qualified needle-free device used for administering fractional Inactivated Polio Vaccine (fIPV) in routine immunisation.
The study, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and carried out by a collaboration that included PharmaJet, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Sydani, Jhpiego, and PATH, took place in Kano and Oyo states between October 2022 and July 2024.
The study, which collected data from healthcare facilities and included both healthcare staff and carers, compared the Tropis system’s effectiveness, cost-efficiency, and scalability to regular intramuscular (IM) injections.
During the meeting, Prof. Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, stated that the government should take into consideration adopting the needle-free device due to its numerous proven benefits and widespread popularity.
The Minister declared that the government would carefully review the study’s findings, through his Special Advisor, Emmanuel Odu.
The executive secretary of the NPHCDA, Muyi Aina, underlined that switching to fIPV without needles might save Nigeria’s vaccination programs $49.51 million over the course of five years.
Director of Disease Control and Immunisation Rufai Garba represented Aina, who stated that the needle-free approach could save anywhere from $0.07 to $1.00 each dosage, or as much as 47% of the entire cost of vaccinations when compared to conventional procedures.
Paul LaBarre, Vice President of Global Business Development at PharmaJet, stated during the device research presentation that the results from the Oyo and Kano States highlight the potential for needle-free polio vaccine to transform routine immunisation in Nigeria and beyond.
LaBarre, who praised work with partners such as Jhpiego, PATH, and the Sydani Group, stated that the review showed that Nigeria’s success with the innovation could open the way for wider adoption across the continent, making polio eradication more possible.
He added that this approach is very cost-effective, saving up to 47% on the entire cost of vaccinations, and that Nigeria, a country with limited healthcare resources, should take particular note of it. While the oral polio vaccination has been crucial in eliminating the disease in many regions of the world, according to LaBarre, it has drawbacks, such as the possibility of contracting polio from the vaccine.
He claims that difficulties include increased expenses, a lack of needles, and logistical difficulties have been brought about by the use of the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), which requires needles.
However, healthcare staff and carers alike found the needle-free gadget simple to use and safe, with no device faults recorded during the trials, he noted.
“This is where the intradermal needle-free delivery device comes in, offering a solution that eliminates the need for needles, reduces vaccine wastage, and enhances immunogenicity,” according to him.
Ms. Sinu Kurian, Director of the Health Population and Nutrition Office at USAID/Nigeria, emphasised the necessity of robust evidence in supporting the WHO-recommended shift to fractional inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) doses.
The organisation called on partners both domestically and internationally to provide funding for the device’s broad implementation, pointing out that it has the ability to transform Nigeria’s immunisation programs and support international efforts to eradicate polio.
Through the representation of Gertrude Odezugo, she conveyed hope that Nigeria might become a leader in implementing state-of-the-art immunisation technologies, thereby fortifying its healthcare system, with ongoing support from USAID. The Oyo State Primary Health Care Board’s Executive Secretary, Babatunde Olatunji, praised the needle-free immunisation regimen as a noteworthy innovation.
He noted that although the device has been well received in the Local Government Areas (LGAs) where it has been deployed in the state, even inexperienced workers may utilise the system due to its ease of use.
Bottom Line
The estimated savings of $49.51 million over five years, coupled with the positive impacts on pain reduction, infection risks, compliance, and medical waste minimization, make this a compelling strategy.
The TROPIS Project’s successful evaluation of the Tropis device in Kano and Oyo states provides strong evidence for the effectiveness, cost-efficiency, and scalability of needle-free technology.
The study’s findings, which demonstrate a significant reduction in vaccination costs and improved patient experience, support the government’s decision to explore the wider adoption of this innovative approach.
