Intramuscular vaccines: good administration practice

Summary

Based on international recommendations and the scientific literature, the recommended injection sites for the intramuscular administration of vaccines in new-borns, infants and children under oneyear are the upper antero-lateral side of the thigh (vastus lateralis M. quadriceps) or the upper arm (M. deltoideus). For those olderthan one year it is the upper arm.

The choice of these sites guarantees both the intramuscular absorption of the injected antigen and thereby maximum efficacy of the vaccine and maximum vaccination safety.

With vaccination in the upper outer quadrant of the buttock there is a good chance that the vaccine will be injected into subcutaneoustissue, resulting in lowered immunogenecity.

The injection needles for intramuscular administration of vaccines must be long enough to penetrate the muscle adequately (16-25mm).

There are two vaccination techniques: one where the muscle mass at the injection site is pushed together, and another where the skinis stretched between the thumb and first finger. A specific length of needle should be used, depending on the vaccination technique:25 mm needles for the first technique and 16 mm for the second.