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A recent study on the Tropis ID Needle-Free Injection System (NFIS) for intradermal (ID) vaccine administration in Nigeria reveals that switching to this needle-free method could save the country’s immunization program $49.51 million over five years. The six-month study, involving 97,000 households in two sample states, found that IPV2 coverage was 11.2% higher with Tropis compared to traditional needle and syringe methods.
Key Findings:
- Increased Coverage: Tropis led to a higher IPV2 coverage, with doubled odds of receiving two doses of IPV compared to standard methods.
- Cost Savings: The study indicated incremental cost savings with needle-free administration ranging from $0.07 to $1.00 per dose, leading to up to 47% total immunization cost savings.
- High Acceptance: Caregivers, healthcare workers, and stakeholders found the needle-free method highly acceptable. Preferences included 95% for ease of use and 78% for safety.
Implementation and Impact:
- The study, conducted from October 2022 to July 2024 in Kano and Oyo states, evaluated Tropis’s effectiveness compared to standard intramuscular delivery. It assessed coverage, cost, acceptability, feasibility, scalability, and sustainability.
- USAID Support: The research was supported by a multi-year grant from USAID, highlighting its commitment to improving immunization practices.
Director of Health Population and Nutrition Office at USAID/Nigeria, Sinu Kurian, noted that the successful implementation in Kano and Oyo marks a significant step towards equitable and sustainable polio immunization coverage for Nigerian children.