Accelerating Access: LunaVax’s MAP Pilot in Nigeria
Launching in Nigeria: A new chapter in community-led vaccine access.
At LunaVax, we believe that innovation in global health doesn’t end in the lab—it begins when breakthrough tools reach the communities that need them most.
You can’t drive vaccine access without reaching the last mile.
This year, we’re launching a feasibility pilot of microneedle vaccine patches (MAPs) for measles immunization in Nigeria, driven by our GCSRT capstone at Harvard Medical School. As part of our Accelerate Access initiative, we’re building a community-led delivery model that makes vaccination more local, more equitable, and more efficient — while also exploring how biometric tools can support vaccine tracking and patient identification in low-resource settings.
To support last-mile outreach, mobile vans will also be tested during the pilot to evaluate their role in community education, logistics, and patch delivery workflows.
We’re inviting health facilities, outreach providers, and immunization leads in Lagos and Abuja to join us as early access contributors.
Why Microneedle Vaccine Patches?
Microneedle vaccine patches (MAPs) are painless, compact, and ideal for outreach in underserved communities.
MAPs represent a promising shift in how vaccines are administered—especially in under-resourced or last-mile settings. These patches are:
- Needle-free – painless and easy to administer
- Low-waste – no syringes, no sharps disposal
- Heat-stable – reduce or eliminate cold chain dependence
- Compact – ideal for mobile and outreach settings
For high-burden diseases like measles, MAPs have the potential to transform how—and where—vaccines can be delivered.
What We’re Piloting
This feasibility study is focused on understanding how MAPs perform in real-world settings across Nigeria. We’re evaluating:
- Usability and acceptability in various health delivery settings
- Integration with existing immunization systems
- Training and task-shifting needs for frontline staff
- Cold chain independence and distribution potential
- Feasibility of biometric tools for patient identification and vaccine continuity
- Use of mobile vans to support outreach, education, and patch distribution logistics
Your facility’s participation can help shape not just this pilot, but the future of vaccine access across Africa. The pilot also aligns with Nigeria’s National Vaccine Policy (2021), which emphasizes innovation, inclusive access, and local self-sufficiency in vaccine delivery.
Policy-Aligned Innovation
Aligning with Nigeria’s 2021 National Vaccine Policy—advancing innovation, equity, and self-reliance in vaccine delivery.
This pilot supports the goals of Nigeria’s National Vaccine Policy (2021)—advancing innovation, equitable access, and vaccine self-sufficiency. The policy encourages country-led technologies that reduce dependency on cold chains and skilled personnel, aligning closely with the potential of microneedle patches.
Want to read the full policy? Download the full Nigeria Vaccine Policy (2021) – PDF hosted by NESG
It also promotes public-private partnerships and community collaboration, aligning closely with our equity-first, frontline-informed approach. As Nigeria transitions toward full ownership of its vaccine supply chain by 2028, feasibility pilots like this one are essential to shape viable, localized models.
Who Can Join
We’re currently building our pilot site network across:
- Lagos
- Abuja
If you’re a community health clinic, private pharmacy, outreach provider, or immunization lead interested in joining the MAP pilot on ground, we’d love to hear from you.
This is an opportunity to be part of something bold and practical—helping move next-gen vaccines from idea to impact.
Why It Matters
Today’s vaccine systems face modern challenges.
From cold chain failures and staffing gaps to high costs and needle hesitancy, traditional models often fall short especially in hard-to-reach areas.
It’s time for a smarter solution.
Microneedle vaccine patches eliminate key barriers and simplify delivery but real-world insight from frontline providers is essential to make them work.
MAPs could change everything.
Your participation can help shape a scalable, data-driven model that brings vaccines closer to the communities that need them most.
Join the MAP Pilot: Lagos & Abuja
From patches to biometrics, this pilot is a bold step toward smarter, more equitable vaccine delivery — and we’re looking for early contributors ready to help test what’s next.
Join the PilotReady to help reimagine vaccine access? Join the pilot or reach us at: pilotstudy@lunavax.com. Together, we can reimagine how vaccines are delivered—from lab to last mile.
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