Infant immunisation - needle size matters
16 October, 2000
Using longer needles to immunise infants causes less redness, swelling and tenderness, according to research published in this week’s British Medical Journal. As a result of this study, researchers in Oxford, UK are calling for vaccine manufacturers to review their policy of supplying shorter needles in vaccine packs.
The researchers randomly immunised 119 healthy infants aged 4 months old, with either a 25 gauge, 16mm needle or a 23 gauge, 25mm needle – both commonly used in general practice. Here in Australia, a 25 gauge, 25 mm needle is commonly used by doctors.Redness, swelling and tenderness were reduced when the longer needle was used. The rate of redness and swelling was reduced by a third with the longer needle compared with that of the shorter needle.
Last Reviewed: 16 October 2000
- 1. Diggle L, Deeks J. Effect of needle length on incidence of local reactions to routine immunisation in infants aged 4 months: randomised controlled trial. BMJ 2000;321:931-933
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