PharmaJet's Stratis injector landed a Performance, Quality and Safety prequalification certificate.--Courtesy of PharmaJet |
Jet injectors provide vaccine without the harsh jab of a needle. And PharmaJet's Stratis injectors got a nod from the World Health Organization (WHO) as the first needle-free injection to receive a Performance, Quality and Safety (PQS) prequalification certificate.
The certification will allow the WHO, GAVI Alliance and UNICEF to purchase and use Stratis injectors for mass immunization campaigns. Stratis injectors nabbed 510(k) clearance in July 2011 and CE marking in 2012, allowing use in the European Economic Area. PQS prequalified devices include cold-chain equipment, injection devices and other products needed for safe and effective immunization delivery.
The injectors rely on pressure to create a stream of liquid that breaks through the skin and delivers doses of medication or vaccine at a desired depth. Needle-free injection takes the pain out of shots and also eliminates the need for "sharps" waste management. Dose-sparing, too, works well with the device.
A July 2012 edition of Vaccine says 24% of adults and 63% of children in the United States fear needles, which impacts immunization rates. An estimated 7% to 17% of the population forgoes vaccination on account of this fear.
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