Which vaccine is delivered by the percutaneous route?

Which vaccine is delivered by the percutaneous route?

• A. MMR
• B. Smallpox
• C. Polio
• D. DTaP

Answer: (B)

Percutaneous delivery means administering a vaccine through the skin, typically by scratching or puncturing the surface rather than by injection into tissue or by mouth. The smallpox vaccine is given this way, using a bifurcated needle to scarify the skin and create a small lesion that forms a vaccination scar. This skin-delivery technique is a hallmark of how the smallpox vaccine was traditionally administered. In contrast, the other vaccines are delivered by injection (such as subcutaneous or intramuscular routes) or, in the case of polio, by mouth. Therefore, the vaccine delivered by the percutaneous route is the smallpox vaccine.

Percutaneous delivery means administering a vaccine through the skin, typically by scratching or puncturing the surface rather than by injection into tissue or by mouth. The smallpox vaccine is given this way, using a bifurcated needle to scarify the skin and create a small lesion that forms a vaccination scar. This skin-delivery technique is a hallmark of how the smallpox vaccine was traditionally administered.

In contrast, the other vaccines are delivered by injection (such as subcutaneous or intramuscular routes) or, in the case of polio, by mouth. Therefore, the vaccine delivered by the percutaneous route is the smallpox vaccine.