The invention provides methods for stimulating an immune response to an antigen in a subject comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a live, modified, and / or recombinant replication-impaired or non-replicating poxvirus comprising the antigen in an amount sufficient to stimulate the immune response, wherein the virus is administered by mechanical disruption of the epidermis. The invention further provides kits comprising such viruses and epidermal disruption devices.