GOLDEN, Colo. — A newly published study in Vaccines highlights significant benefits of PharmaJet’s needle-free Tropis® Intradermal (ID) delivery system over traditional needle-and-syringe methods for administering the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) in Nigeria’s routine immunization program.
The research, conducted in partnership with Nigeria’s National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Jhpiego, PATH, the Sydani Group, and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, found that Tropis ID significantly boosted vaccine coverage, improved healthcare worker satisfaction, and cut costs. The study was supported by a $1.5 million grant from the USAID Development Innovation Ventures Program.
Conducted over six months in Kano and Oyo States, the study is the first to evaluate coverage outcomes from needle-free intradermal delivery in routine immunization (RI) settings. Researchers found that IPV2 coverage increased by 11.2% when using Tropis ID compared to the standard intramuscular delivery. This effectively doubled the odds of children receiving the recommended two doses of IPV.
Healthcare workers overwhelmingly favored the Tropis ID system, with 97% citing it as their preferred method for routine vaccinations. The majority reported it was easier to use than standard methods and caused less discomfort for children, leading to more positive responses from caregivers.
Cost analysis further underscored the value of the Tropis system. Depending on the scenario, the needle-free delivery could reduce per-dose costs by as much as $1.00 and lower total immunization program costs by up to 47%. If scaled nationally, this could translate into savings of approximately $50 million over five years for Nigeria’s immunization program.
PharmaJet’s Tropis ID is a WHO-prequalified system that has already been deployed in more than 12 million vaccinations globally, including in high-risk polio environments. The system offers precise, intradermal delivery without needles, which not only increases safety but also allows for fractional dosing, extending vaccine supplies.
“This study demonstrates that Tropis ID can improve the patient and caregiver experience over the standard of care for routine immunizations, resulting in increased vaccine compliance—an essential factor in polio eradication,” said Paul LaBarre, Vice President of Global Business Development at PharmaJet. “With added benefits like dose sparing and cost savings, Tropis ID represents an ideal tool for expanding access to immunization, especially in resource-constrained settings.”
As Nigeria transitions away from Gavi support and faces broader global health funding challenges, Tropis ID could play a crucial role in maintaining and improving immunization coverage at reduced cost. PharmaJet said it is now looking to partner with other African countries to further evaluate the benefits of needle-free intradermal delivery in their own public health programs.
