190.tif

2006
Content Provided by: Judy Schmidt
This is an infant receiving an intramuscular immunization from a nurse.
Vaccinations are most often given via the intramuscular route in the deltoid or thigh muscle, to optimize the immune response of the vaccine and reduce the adverse reactions in and around the injection site. Smaller doses are administered in the deltoid muscle because they are absorbed faster and will cause less pain. Infants under 15 months of age should be vaccinated in the anterolateral aspect of the thigh.