A little prickly patch could mean the end of using needles for injections and help more people to be vaccinated against diseases.

Instead of a needle, a patch covered in really tiny needles would be placed on the skin. The needles dissolve transferring the vaccine into the patient.

The patch has been developed by scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University. Each patch holds 100 tiny needles which measure less than 1mm in length.

Tests have found that vaccines given using the patch are more effective than given using a traditional needle.

The patches are so simple to use it could mean in the future people could vaccinate themselves rather than needing a doctor or nurse to do it.

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