The other day, I was browsing through my cachet of health postage stamps. I came across a peculiar injection device in use in some stamps. This device was invented in 1960s, and was extensively used for mass-vaccinations. This device called jet-inject, could deliver injections, without a needle. However, more serious concerns in early 1980s made us abandon this invention. Was this abandonment a cover-up ?
Development of a jet-injector
Isolated industrial accidents in 1940s, had shown that it is possible to inject a fluid, below the skin, without a syringe or a needle. Such high speed injectors were in use in diesel engine industry. By 1951, US army had developed first multi-use jet injectors (MUJI), so that many individuals could be immunised in a short span of time. This was a time when injectable polio vaccine was developed, and all children were to be immunised.
During 1950s, we only had glass syringes and reusable metallic needles. All types of needles had to cleaned, and then boiled for about 30 minutes before reuse. Hence, any mass-immunisation program required a large workforce not only for injection, but also to prepare syringe and needles for next use. By 1960s US armed forces had used this device extensively, and it was to be rolled out for Small pox vaccination in Africa.
This multi-dose jet injector was called “peace gun“. Same device was also used in a futuristic television show star-trek with a name hypo-spray. Those who remember, all injections in this series were given through a needle-less gun device. Many Small-pox postage stamps have displayed this device in use.
Downfall of this device
Global eradication of small pox was achieved in 1979 and announced in 1980. Next year, in 1981 we had first reports of hepatitis B transmission linked to a jet injector. As vaccine is injected, some blood or serum oozes out of the skin. This could infect the next person, who is injected. As more instances of Jet-injector Hepatitis B transmission appeared, the use of the device stopped. Hepatitis C transmission in US army Vietnam war personnel is also suspected.
Moreover in 1981, HIV-infection was discovered, and by 1990s the magnitude of infected individuals, especially in Africa and Asia was well known. We had shifted from reusable to single use syringes and needles. Quietly, jet-injectors faded away from public memory, and so also from the postage stamps.
Next mass vaccination was COVID, when we all saw single use needles and syringes in use.
Great information re-use of syringes be avoided strictly through out
Nice Article sir