Based on the article, the reader can predict that __________.
People who are afraid of needles will be eager for the patch to become available to the public.
People who are not trained to give flu shots will never be able to use the microneedle patch at home.
The microneedle patch will be approved for public use, but people will be scared off by the predicted pain.
The researchers will not be able to secure any funds to begin testing the microneedle patch on people.
People who are afraid of needles will be eager for the patch to become available to the public.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Achieve3000, September 22, 2010). Doctors recommend that nearly everyone gets a flu shot each year, but many people are afraid of needles. What are health officials to do? Get rid of the needles—at least the big scary ones. Researchers are developing a new method of vaccine delivery that would be less painful and could even be used at home: a patch with microneedles.
Researchers led by Mark R. Prausnitz of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) developed the patch. It's like a Band-Aid with tiny needles attached to one side. The patch is placed on the skin and left for 5 minutes to 15 minutes. The little needles, or microneedles, inject the skin with a dose of the vaccine, just like a regular shot. But the needles are so small that they barely penetrate the skin before they dissolve. In tests of microneedles without vaccine, people rated the discomfort at one-tenth to one-twentieth of that from getting a standard injection. Nearly everyone said it was painless.
That could help a lot of people who should get a flu shot every year but avoid it because they're afraid of needles. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that all people over 6 months of age receive a flu vaccine annually. The flu virus is a respiratory illness with symptoms that include fever, headaches, fatigue, and a stuffy nose. The vaccine prevents the people who receive it from getting many strains of the flu and helps limit the spread of the flu.
The convenience of a microneedle patch could encourage more people to get vaccinated. Many people don't get a flu shot because it's inconvenient, but if they could get the patch in the mail or at the pharmacy, they might do so. Since the needles are so small, it does not take special training to learn how to use the patch. No doctor or nurse would need to be involved.
"The goal has been [to create] a means to administer the vaccine that is patient-friendly," explained Prausnitz. That means developing something that "not only [wouldn't hurt or look] scary, but that patients could self-administer."
The patch could also help resolve issues over the disposal of leftover hypodermic needles. Since the tiny needles dissolve, there are no leftover sharp needles, which require special disposal containers and can be dangerous if placed directly in the garbage.
As of September 2010, the patch had been tested on mice and on people, although the tests on people did not involve doses of the vaccine. The researchers were seeking funds to begin vaccine tests on people. If all goes well, the patch could be in use in five years.
What if the term "microneedles" is too scary for the public? Prausnitz said he believes the patch will have a better name before it goes on sale.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Based on the article, the reader can predict that people who are afraid of needles will be eager for the patch to become available to the public.
The news article says all of the following except __________.
One way to calm the nerves when a big needle is used to give shots
One way the microneedle patch might be convenient for people
One reason why it does not take special training to use the patch
One reason why some people avoid getting an annual flu shot
One way to calm the nerves when a big needle is used to give shots
Which of these should not be included in a summary of this article?
Most people reported that microneedles created less discomfort than a standard injection.
Microneedles are so small that they barely penetrate the skin.
The convenience of a microneedle patch might encourage more people to get vaccinated.
A stuffy nose and fatigue are two symptoms of the flu virus.
A stuffy nose and fatigue are two symptoms of the flu virus.
Which of the following best describes one way that the microneedle patch and a standard injection differ?
The patch has a name that might scare some people off, while hardly any people are afraid of standard injections.
The patch makes use of leftover hypodermic needles, while a standard injection uses new needles.
The patch is already approved for use with people, while standard injections are used only on mice.
The patch can be used at home, while a standard injection usually involves a doctor or a nurse.
The patch can be used at home, while a standard injection usually involves a doctor or a nurse.
Look at page 2 of the Article. Which three details describe what scientists know today about influenza and how it is spread?
There is one strain of virus that causes influenza.
A virus causes influenza.
Handwashing can help prevent the spread of influenza.
It is difficult to pass a flu virus from person to person through casual contact.
Flu viruses mutate quickly, so vaccines must be released regularly.