PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide methods for stimulating an immune response.SOLUTION: The invention provides methods for stimulating an immune response to an antigen in a subject, the methods 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, where the virus is administered by mechanical disruption of the epidermis. The invention further provides kits comprising such viruses and epidermal disruption devices. The immune response is a humoral response and/or a cellular response.