Health professionals should not use jet injectors for administering flu vaccines unless the labeling says so, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) announced yesterday. There is only one vaccine (MMR) that is approved for jet injector administration.

The FDA says it has received several enquiries by health professional regarding the usage of jet injectors for the administration of flu shots.

An FDA-approved vaccine has instructions in its labeling regarding its administration. The FDA emphasizes that the labeling data is based on scientific information the FDA reviewed when it decided to approve the medication.

If a vaccine’s label says it should be administered by intramuscular, intradermal or subcutaneous route, the doctor, nurse or pharmacist should do just that – administer it only according to what the labeling says. A vaccine should only be given using a syringe unless the labeling says otherwise, the FDA wrote.

In a communiqué, the FDA wrote:

“The FDA has no data to support the safety or effectiveness of other vaccines delivered by jet injector. At this time, there are no vaccines for the prevention of influenza disease that are approved by the FDA for administration by jet injector.”

jetinjector
Example of a jet injector

Flu shots have been approved by needle or nasal mist spray administration. No evaluations have yet been carried out regarding their use by jet injection. This means we do not know how safe and effective flu shots are if given by jet injection.

Vaccination of girl
Example of an intramuscular injection

We do not know whether an approved flu vaccine might change its characteristics if it is administered by jet injectors.

Only when a flu vaccine administered by jet injector has been evaluated by the FDA, with human trial data showing its safety and efficacy, can the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) consider whether or not to approve it.

  • The FDA recommends that jet injectors NOT be used to administer flu vaccines
  • All approved influenza vaccines should only be administered according to what is written in their labeling. In fact, this is the case for any vaccine, not just flu ones.
  • Health care professionals should read the Dosage and Administration section of the vaccine’s labeling, as well as the jet injector’s product labeling before administering any vaccine

Somali boy receives a polio vaccination
Example of a subcutaneous injection (in this case a polio vaccine)

Written by Christian Nordqvist