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The Efficient, Biosecure and Animal-Friendly Way to Vaccinate.

IDAL® is a Needle-Free intradermal (ID) device, developed to give a fixed 0.2 ml vaccine dose in the skin of the pig. 

MSD Animal Health offers a portfolio of specially designed vaccines for Needle-Free ID application using the IDAL® device (IDAL® 3G+ Mono and IDAL® 3G+ Twin), available through your prescribing vet.

Needle-Free and Intradermal:
the perfect match

Needle-Free ID application of vaccines is the most advanced method for vaccinating pigs today. 

The ergonomically designed, reliable and easy-to-use IDAL® device makes vaccination safer and less stressful for administrators and pigs, while ensuring efficacy at the same time. 

Together, with the broadest range of specifically formulated intradermal vaccines, IDAL® is an important step in controlling major diseases affecting pig operations worldwide. 

Learn more about disease control with 
Needle-Free ID vaccination

Benefits of Needle-Free Intradermal Vaccination 

IDAL® devices deposit an exact vaccine dose through the skin under high pressure and in a fraction of a second, resulting in less stress on the pigs and an easier vaccination routine for the administrator. 


The advantages of IDAL® vaccine delivery over traditional needle-syringe methods include:

  • Minimising pain and stress in animals
  • Reducing vaccine volume
  • Avoiding accidental needle stick injuries amongst workers
  • Removing the need for needle disposal

Vaccination without damaging muscle tissue

The skin is the body’s first line of defence against infections, therefore it is populated with many specialised immune cells that will react quickly and efficiently to an infection. Needle-Free ID vaccination triggers this response efficiently in the skin, without any risk of damage to the muscle tissue.1

Fast, efficient response to vaccine antigens

  • High concentrations of specialised cells in the skin respond very quickly and efficiently to vaccine antigens.
  • IDAL® vaccination stimulates an immune response at least as efficient as following intramuscular (IM) administration.3

Reduce pig-to-pig disease transmission by using IDAL®

Needle-Free ID vaccination using IDAL® has been proven to significantly reduce the risk of transmitting a disease from one animal to another while vaccinating. 

Needles, on the other hand, may lead to horizontal spread of infections when not changed frequently enough.4, 5

Welfare

IDAL® vaccination reduces pain perception in pigs. Traditional IM vaccination with a needle and syringe can be a stressful and painful event for pigs, however IDAL® vaccination deposits a precise vaccine dose through the skin in a fraction of a second, resulting in less stress. 

  • Increased suckling vs IM vaccination
  • Less fear response 24 hours post-vaccination
  • Increased general activity in sows
  • No behavioural difference in piglets pre- and post-vaccination

Use of IDAL® vaccination results in the following behaviours:

Reduction in high pitched vocalisation

Reduction in retreat attempts


Reduction in change 
of behaviour

Reduction in turning back


Reduction in panic response to observer 24-hours post-vaccination in sows

Behaviour references:

  • Göller, M. et al. (2020) Evaluation of Behavioral Aspects after Intradermal and Intramuscular Vaccine Application in Suckling Piglets. Agriculture 2020, 10, 637. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10120637
  • Scollo, A. et al. (2020) Evaluation of pain and stress in three-week old piglets in relation to route of vaccine administration, Livestock Science, Volume 233, 2020, 103939, ISSN 1871-1413, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2020.103939.
  • Temple, D. et al. (2017) Effect of the needle-free “intra dermal application of liquids” vaccination on the welfare of pregnant sows. Porc Health Manag 3, 9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-017-0056-3
  • Temple, D. et al. (2020) Welfare Benefits of Intradermal Vaccination of Piglets. Animals 2020, 10, 1898. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10101898

Sustainability

IDAL® helps to enhance your farm’s economic and environmental sustainability, as well as optimising the efficiency of your storage space and transportation.

MSD Animal Health’s IDAL® vaccines require a 0.2 ml dose, up to 80-90% less than that required for IM vaccines, allowing for a smaller bottle size and more efficient storage.

The reduced refrigerator storage space lowers overall energy consumption.

It also reduces the overall volume and weight to be transported. 

80-90%

lower dose

for ID vaccines
than that required 

for IM vaccines

Reduced

bottle size

for Needle-Free ID vaccines
compared to 

IM vaccines

By using IDAL® vaccines with the IDAL® device, you can reduce glass, plastic and carton waste. The lower the amount of waste, the more sustainable and cheaper waste management is. 

Vaccinate your animals against up to 4 diseases in 1 vaccination session with the IDAL® device.

See if IDAL® vaccines are right for you.
Cellphone showing vaccines in calendar

Using The IDAL® Way app enhances farm productivity.

  • Manage your IDAL® using your handheld devices
  • Track and review vaccination sessions
  • Receive notifications
  • Multiple language options
Download Link to the App store
Download Link to Google Play

References:

  1. Romani N, Flacher V, Tripp CH, Sparber F, Ebner S, Stoitzner P. Targeting skin dendritic cells to improve intradermal vaccination. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 2012;351:113-38. 
  2. Ferrari L. et al. Evaluation of the immune response induced by intradermal vaccination by using a needle – less system in comparison with the intramuscular route in conventional pigs. Res Vet Sci, 90:64-71. 2011. 
  3. Summerfield A. The dermis as a prime site of vaccine delivery. International Pig Topics, October 2014.
  4. Madapong A, Saeng-Chuto K, Tantituvanont A, Nilubol D. Safety of PRRSV-2 MLV vaccines administrated via the intramuscular or intradermal route and evaluation of PRRSV transmission upon Needle-Free and needle delivery. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):23107. Published 2021 Nov 29. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-02444-3
  5. Salman M, Lin H, Suntisukwattana R, et al. Intradermal Needle-Free injection prevents African Swine Fever transmission, while intramuscular needle injection does not [published correction appears in Sci Rep. 2023 May 15;13(1):7840. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-34898-y]. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):4600. Published 2023 Mar 21. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-31199-2