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A SIMPLE PATCH that is placed on the skin of the wrist for 20 minutes has been found to deliver a flu vaccine safely and effectively.
The success of the first human trial of the use of the ‘microneedle patch’ has given rise to hopes that its use could cut down on ‘sharps’ waste caused by disposable hypodermic needles and increase the uptake by the public in getting the flu vaccine.
The vaccine-infused patch, which is pressed onto the wrist until the microneedles dissolve painlessly into the skin, was self-administered by a test group and remains stable up to 40 degrees Celsius for one year, meaning it could be made available at pharmacies.
The trial, carried out in the US by Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, saw 100 test subjects who had not received the flu jab that year divided up into four groups. The Lancet reports that each of the groups received either a vaccine microneedle patch administered by a health professional; a vaccine injection administered by a health professional; a placebo microneedle patch administered by a health professional; or a self-applied vaccine microneedle patch.
The Lancet reports:
The researchers also found that 28 days after the vaccination, those who had received the flu vaccine through the microneedle patch showed a “robust immune response” with antibody levels similar to those who received it by needle.
Commenting on the research, a spokesperson from the National Infections Service in the UK said that the results of this first trial were “promising” and that “exciting features of the microneedle patch are its low costs, safety and storage aspects”. These features, it was suggested, could potentially encourage a better uptake of the vaccine in vulnerable groups such as young children and for those in “poorly-resourced settings”.
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Let me just say before the whole 50M???? but our health sector/homeless sector blah blah blah. They get more than enough money, it’s how they spend it.
@Liam Grennan: what about just paying our defence forces more. Priorities are all wrong with this government!
@Liam Grennan: when this plane arrives on Irish shores for the price quoted 50M ect ect I’ll be mightly impressed.
@John Long: equipment upgrades is just one part of the Commission on the Defence Forces report published February 2022, recommend reading it to get the full picture.
@Liam Grennan: what do you know about what our defence forces do I can off the top of my head if you want list 10 vital things our forces do and why 50m on aircraft is more than justified and money well spent
@Liam Grennan: our aircore transport very sick kids to ormand St hospital for transplants and other vital operations. They operate the Garda helicopter they are involved in air , land and sea rescue missions they operate covert recon missions tracking suspected drug or contraband ships at sea our navy enforce fishery laws and seize and search drug ships at considerable danger to our boarding parties and In fact our navy was involved with the largest ever seizure of drugs at sea in history. They also are involved with sea rescue and humanitarian missions our army secure our only high security prison and our government buildings and the national Mint. They are called out on average twice a day to deal with suspect explosive devices. They are on call 24hrs in aid to the civil power.
@Paul Gorry: I could have kept going but my post was too long… but you have the idea
@John Long: Reduce the numbers and pay those that have legitimate and needed jobs more. Unfortunately, there is a huge amount of people employed in our defence forces who have nothing to do for most of the year.
@Paul Gorry: etc. Et Cetera.
@Liam Grennan: we already put 20 billion into the health service…it doesn’t need more Money it needs proper management
@John Long: yawn
@sean o’dhubhghaill: You got him there Sean.
Did it make you feel all warm inside?
@Liam Grennan: so when SF in government adds to the €250bn debt created by FF and FG another €100bn on their own projects you will be ok. Great so.
@Mark Dawson: All very important tasks but you don’t need an army for any of them
@Paul Gorry: this article says it’s a $28-30 million aeroplane so at €50 million we are already paying circa twice the price.
https://military-wiki.com/casa-c-295-the-best-transport-aircraft-in-its-price-range/
@Mickety Dee:
The most sensible and accurate comment on this issue.
@Mark Dawson: You dropped the mic at the right time LOL
@Stephen Kearon: less of the patronising Stephen. If the wives and partners have to protest on their husbands behalf then pay should be the number 1 priority during a cost of living crisis. Have a nice day!
@John Long: so have a well paid army but no equipment to run said army? Did you ever think of becoming Minister for Defence?
@Mark Dawson: if you read my comment properly you would see I never criticised our defence system and quiet the opposite.
@David cotter: That what I ment by THEY as in other departments have more than enough money.
@John Long: I bet you are one of those who want everyone to support their local butcher, but also to become vegan?
People Join to do the job. Give them the tools to do it AND the pay. Not one or the other.
@Liam Grennan: Quite right!
Excellent news and long overdue, but just one of many modern aircraft that should be purchased.
This is for a change money well spent and after our special forces rescue mission in Afghanistan where they had to basically hitch a flight back it was embarrassing.
A step in the right direction, but long overdue. A step towards building a capable, self-reliant and modern defence force. Of course there are many things this country should spend money on, the Defence Forces are one of them.
“…and the final cost could be in the region of €50 million.”
Rising to €500m to €1bn by 2025.
@Rafa Condron: Don’t forget the 20 mil on two Garda Helicopters while Yr at it.
@Rafa Condron: Its not the HSE or Department of Health, this will come in on budget as agreed by contract.
Did eamon Ryan pick it out …….is it solar power or power by the photosynthetic transfer from the lettuce grown in window boxes? It couldn’t be run of fossil fuel because that would be hypocrisy and our leaders would be to moral for that ………
@Jim Casey: it’s actually pedal powered and they each get a comb with a piece of paper to make the flying noise …
@Rafa Condron: hover bikes !!
@Jim Casey: too moral
@Jim Casey: its pedal power
The world could be such a better place if we didn’t have mad men running it, imagine what could be done for the people of the world if the trillions spent on murdering people was put to better use!!
@Colette Kearns: is this an anti men post..? , ugh another bra burner ..
@Colette Kearns: the only way this aircraft can be used for murdering someone is if it drove over them. So, speaking for men everywhere, go have a lie down, love.
@Colette Kearns: I’d take my chances with a mad man over a mad woman any day. At least you would have some chance of reasoning with him.
@Fuji Hakayito: ouch!
@Colette Kearns:
Apart from blaming everything on mad men I absolutely agree with you. There are enough resources on this planet to make it into a paradise for every single person.
The little problem of capitalism gets in the way of such an outcome.
Now, let’s take a little look at the replies to your post. Instead of responding to the most important aspect of your post, they set about attacking you for being (allegedly) anti-man, for being a woman, for being feeble-minded perhaps or for whatever gives them an excuse to deal with your substantive point. It is also intended to shut you up.They think you are dreaming but, they are the ones who promote and support nighmare lives and deaths for hundreds of millions of people. Mililarism, under any guise is still mililarism.
@Declan McKenna: socialism and communism haven’t exactly been great for promoting peace either…
@Colette Kearns: how many people will this plane murder do you think?
Firstly, we have a mickey mouse Defence force – who are understaffed, underpaid, and unable to defend their country with what they have. Secondly, we have to rely on the UK and others to protect our airspace when theres a poacher or incident. Thirdly, theres neaely not enough troops in the whole force to fill this new plane. This is like someone with no legs buying a bicycle. The mind boggles.
@Frank Flanagan: Ask people in Lebanon, Eritrea, East Timor, Congo etc if those responsible for saving lives there and preventing slaughter are a Mickey Mickey force. Those actions are Ireland’s projection of it’s own values across the world. Yes, there has been severe under investment for years but they’re contribution has been enormous.
2023 and it’s only happening now pffff…
This would be a great asset for the Air Corps as they had been looking for one for many years
Insane
50 million for
Health
Housing
Homelessness
Not military hardware
Unbelievable government priorities…
@Kerry Evans: This aircraft will be used for Humanitarian work on behalf of the Irish Government.
You should also have a lie down.
@Kerry Evans: I’d say you have the same post ready to go any time an announcement is made about government spending that doesn’t involve these
@Kerry Evans:
More sense and reason in a sea of war-mongering apologists for militarism and, worse still, “humanitarian” militarism. Let the voices for peace and prosperity keep singing!
@Kerry Evans: in 2021 we gave the following homeless charities €71,381,345
Peter McVerry Trust €38,378,909
Focus Ireland €15,644,870
Dublin Simon €17,357,566
Arlington Novas € 12,447,613
and over the last 5 years we have given them €327,496,751
That’s the price of 6 of these aircraft and we still have the same amount of homeless,
so in is not the price of a plane that causing homelessness
The C295 is no bigger than the ATR72′s that you see on Aer Lingus Regional routes. That is not a heavy lift capability. Why not go for something bigger like an A400 ?
@Jonathan McCoy: totally agree the c295 won’t even be able to transport a rotation battalion to Lebanon witch dosent make any sense to me …its one of our main overseas missions at battalion strength witch is carried out by chartered airlines…plus the cargo payload is 9 Tone?? APCs and armoured vehicles in general are all 5 tone plus so it can only transport one piece of equipment
Surly there are a lot of good second hand military transporters out there that would be much cheaper.
@Tom O’Hanlon: Believe it or not but second hand with military equipment isn’t always cheaper. A lot of older aircraft require much more maintenance per flight hour than newer models. Sourcing spare parts is also an issue. Unlike say cars which are made in their millions, a popular military plane might be only made in the thousands, so parts availability can be a tricky issue.
@Tom O’Hanlon: yeah spending euros on second hand aircraft in order to (hopefully) save cents. Great strategy that. Nothing wrong with purchasing well proven brand new aircraft. This will probably still be flying when all of us are gone.
According to other sources, in 2019 Ireland ordered 2 of these C295 aircraft. Is this part of the same order or is this for a 3rd?
@Paul: 3rd it’s cargo variant.. other two are maritime patrol versions
Meanwhile our de facto air force is the RAF. (Ireland has no air force).
That type of plane still won’t get you to Kabul..
The cargo variant…..should we be worried?
Honostly. This government is just not credible, miss management of tax payers money should be a crime. Leo is just not living in the real world.
They’d be better off buying a good secondhand c-130 or even an airbus 320 !! A multi role twin jet with long legs surely would be far more beneficial?
Let’s just face it. If we kitted out every person who could fight off an attack we would still just be pushed aside. Invest in what we are good at and that seems to be tec
@David Saunders: where did they say this investment (or any military investment) was being used to fight off an attack against Ireland?
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