A SIMPLE and cheap way of making vaccines stable – even at tropical temperatures – has been demonstrated by scientists at Oxford University.

The British technology has the potential to revolutionise vaccination efforts by removing the need for fridges, freezers and associated health infrastructure.

The work, funded by the Grand Challenges in Global Health partnership with other funds from the Wellcome Trust, has been published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Lead author Dr Matt Cottingham, of the Jenner Institute at Oxford University said sugar-stabilised membranes could be packaged with syringes ready for use.

He added: “Currently vaccines need to be stored in a fridge or freezer.

“That means you need a clinic with a nurse, a fridge and an electricity supply, and refrigeration lorries for distribution. If you could ship vaccines at normal temperatures, you would greatly reduce cost and hugely improve access to vaccines.

“You could even picture someone with a backpack taking vaccine doses on a bike into remote villages.”

The university carried out a study, showing vaccines they are developing could be stabilised for months using the Hypodermic Rehydration Injection System.

The team demonstrated it was possible to store two different virus-based vaccines on sugar-stabilised membranes for four to six months at 45C without any degradation.

Isis Innovation, Oxford University’s technology transfer company, is working with the inventors to put a commercial strategy in place for the development of the technology.