Must my corona vaccine always be administered into a muscle?

The COVID-19 vaccine must always be administered into a muscle, namely one of the large muscles of the body, usually the deltoid muscle in the upper arm. This is called intramuscular injection.

Muscles have good blood circulation, which means that the vaccine can be absorbed into the bloodstream quickly and efficiently. This ensures that the immune system can respond quickly to the vaccine. Intramuscular injections provide a controlled and stable delivery of the vaccine, which helps to build a consistent and effective immune response.

Injecting the vaccine into muscle tissue reduces the risk of irritation and damage to other tissues such as skin and fatty tissue. Intramuscular injections are a proven and reliable method of administering vaccines and medications. This is standard practice for many vaccines, including those for influenza, hepatitis and tetanus.

Injecting the COVID-19 vaccine into a muscle is therefore necessary for the safety and effectiveness of the vaccination. Other methods of administration, such as subcutaneous (under the skin) or intravenous (into a vein), are not used because they do not provide the same benefits and may be less effective and safe for this type of vaccine.

Source: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2101544

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2022-12-01 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2024