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The sites of injection for the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and pentavalent vaccine (Penta) are the vastus lateralis or deltoid muscle. The oral polio vaccine is given orally and not via injection. The vastus lateralis muscle is located on the anterior lateral aspect of the thigh, while the deltoid muscle is located on the upper arm. The vastus lateralis muscle is targeted for infants and younger children, while the deltoid muscle can be used for older children and adults. The vastus lateralis muscle originates from the femur and inserts into the patella via the quadriceps tendon. Its action is to extend the leg at the knee joint. To locate the vastus lateralis muscle, the anterolateral aspect of the thigh can be palpated, and the midpoint between the greater trochanter of the femur and the lateral condyle of the tibia can be identified. The deltoid muscle originates from the lateral third of the clavicle, the acromion, and the spine of the scapula, and inserts into the deltoid tuberosity of the humerus. Its action is to abduct, flex, and extend the arm at the shoulder joint. To locate the deltoid muscle, the acromion process can be palpated, and the injection site is located two fingerbreadths below the acromion process.
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The preferred site for intramuscular injection in this case would be the ventrogluteal muscle of the hip. This site is considered safe for adults and is not close to any major blood vessels or nerves. To locate this area, place the heel of your hand on the hip of the person receiving the injection, and point your fingers toward their head. The index finger should be on the anterior superior iliac spine, and the middle finger should be along the iliac crest. The injection should be given in the center of the triangle formed by the index and middle fingers.
References
Cafasso, J. (2016, February 25). What Are Intramuscular Injections? Healthline; Healthline Media. https://www.healthline.com/health/intramuscular-injection
Sundip Charmode, Sharma, S., Kushwaha, S. S., Mehra, S., Sangma, S. S., & Mishra, V. (2022). Deltoid Intramuscular Injections: A Systematic Review of Underlying Neurovascular Structures to the Muscle and Proposing a Relatively Safer Site. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.24172
Tortora, G. J., & Derrickson, B. (2017). Principles of anatomy and physiology (15th ed.). Wiley Custom Learning Solutions. https://handoutset.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Principles-of-anatomy-and-physiology-Wiley-2017-Derrickson-Bryan-H._-Tortora-Gerard-J..pdf