One shot would provide multiple measurements of an inoculation thanks to microparticles that release payloads at separate intervals, according to new research.

These microparticles resemble tiny coffee cups sealed with a lid and the jab could combat a host of illnesses – from measles to COVID, scientists said.

The particles remain under the skin until the vaccine is released and then break down, just like reabsorbable stitches.

They could be particularly useful for administering childhood vaccinations in regions where people do not have regular access to medical care, said the team at MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts.