March 2021 - With the COVID-19 vaccine becoming more readily available, there is the outstanding question of how many people will get vaccinated and will it be enough to help society as a whole achieve herd immunity.
With the COVID-19 vaccine becoming more readily available, there is the outstanding question of how many people will get vaccinated and will it be enough to help society as a whole achieve herd immunity. Although a vaccine may be the path to regain a life of normalcy, a December New York Times survey found that 25% of all Americans “probably or definitely would not take a coronavirus vaccine.1
There are many reasons why people are hesitant to become vaccinated; for some, the thought of getting an injection is reason enough. Tryanphobia, an extreme fear of medical procedures involving injections or hypodermic needles, affects 20% of the population. 2,3 Needle fear (vs phobia) is even greater: In a study evaluating 1,907 children and parents, it was found that 63% of children and 24% of adults were afraid of needles.4 When asked, 7% of adults admitted to vaccine non-adherence due to the fear of needles.
Portal Instruments recognizes this anxiety and is dedicated to helping patients – and society – by developing a needle-free injector. We are not available for vaccine delivery (yet), but we envision a world where our needle-free injector is available and driving an increase in vaccinations and ultimately, helping prevent preventable illnesses.
1 Stolberg, Sheryl Gay. “A New Survey Finds That about a Quarter of Americans Don’t Want to Get Vaccinated.” The New York Times, 15 Dec. 2020. The New York Times, 15 Dec. 2020.
2 “Trypanophobia: Test, Definition, and Causes” Healthline, n.d. Web.
3 Malcolm, Xavia, and Xavia Malcolm. “Trypanophobia- A Fear of Needles.” Health Beat, 29 Jan. 2021, jamaicahospital.org/newsletter/trypanophobia-a-fear-of-needles/
4 Taddio A, Ipp M, Thivakaran S, Jamal A, Parikh C, Smart S, Sovran J, Stephens D, Katz J. Survey of the prevalence of immunization non-compliance due to needle fears in children and adults. Vaccine. 2012 Jul 6;30(32):4807-12. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.05.011. Epub 2012 May 19. PMID: 22617633.
October 2024 - At the Partnership Opportunities in Drug Delivery (PODD) conference, Robert Hidalgo showcased Portal Instrument's latest advancements on its reusable, electro-mechanical drug delivery platform.
January 2025 – Portal Instruments, a leader in innovative drug delivery technology, recently announced the launch of PRIME Nexus, a cutting-edge reusable electronic injector designed to enhance the administration of injectable medications while helping partners meet their sustainability goals.
November 2, 2021 - Jody was diagnosed with Scleritis, a serious eye disease that is often associated with an underlying autoimmune disorder. Fast forward to today, Jody has started taking weekly injections to ease her symptoms. We sat down with Jody to hear about her first at home injection.
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