Journal Content Recommendation
01
Lessons from a decade of adult vaccine rollout in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review
This study was published in the Expert Review of Vaccines. The study extracted experiences and lessons learned from introducing adult vaccines in low- and middle-income countries over the past decade through a scoping review. The 25 papers reviewed focused on oral cholera vaccine, group A meningococcal vaccine, tetanus toxoid vaccine, typhoid vaccine, and Ebola vaccine.
The findings suggest the necessity of multisectoral collaborative planning, strategic resource allocation, and a priority for vaccine accessibility based on knowledge of the disease burden. In terms of accessibility, it is important to “highlight the benefits of leveraging existing health infrastructure, adequately training healthcare workers, and contextually tailoring vaccine delivery approaches to reach challenging sub-groups like working male adults.” With regard to acceptance, studies have shown that empathetic advocacy and communication campaigns, as well as the employment of credible individuals, can all help dispel rumors and raise immunization and public awareness.
This study offers “key evidence-based recommendations to support successful and equitable vaccinations targeting adults.” The study recommends understanding the burden of disease for prioritization, strengthening multisectoral collaboration and coordination of resources, leveraging existing health infrastructure, training healthcare workers, adapting vaccination modalities to reach poorly accessible populations, and increasing vaccine acceptance through effective advocacy and communication campaigns.
https://doi.org/10.1080/14760584.2024.2375329
02
Interventions for improving coverage of childhood immunization in low‐ and middle‐income countries
This study, published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, aimed to assess the effectiveness of intervention strategies to promote demand and supply of childhood vaccines and maintain high coverage of childhood immunization in low- and middle-income countries. A total of 41 studies involving 100,747 participants were included in the study. A wide range of countries in Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Europe were included in the study, “in low‐ and middle‐income countries involving children that were under five years of age, caregivers, and healthcare providers.”
Studies have shown that joint community-led interventions with healthcare providers may increase DTP3/Penta 3 vaccination coverage (RR 1.37, 95% CI:1.11-1.69; 1 study, 2,020 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). There is low-certainty evidence that health education in healthcare settings, in combination with home-based records of vaccinations, may improve DTP3/Penta 3 vaccine coverage. Combining immunization services with other services may increase full vaccination coverage; telephone or text message reminders may have little effect on DTP3/Penta 3 vaccination coverage. Evidence that vaccine/immunization outreach services (Immunization outreach) can increase DTP3/Penta 3 vaccination coverage in children under 2 years of age is uncertain, as is the impact of training health care providers in interpersonal communication skills and conducting visits to children and their families on increasing full vaccination coverage in children under 2 years of age.
Studies have concluded, “Health education, home‐based records, a combination of involvement of community leaders with health provider intervention, and integration of immunization services may improve vaccine uptake.” Low certainty of evidence means that the true effect of an intervention may differ significantly from the estimated effect. Therefore, more rigorous RCTs are “required to generate high‐certainty evidence to inform policy and practice.”
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD008145.pub4
03
Global vaccine coverage and childhood survival estimates: 1990–2019
This study was published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization by Hai Fang from Peking University. The study aimed to quantify the association between routine childhood immunization and reductions in child mortality in 204 countries and territories around the globe between 1990 and 2019. The study used mixed-effects regression modeling to estimate the association between eight routine children vaccines and reductions in under-five mortality using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study.
Between 1990 and 2019, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP), measles, rotavirus, and Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccines significantly reduced mortality in children under 5 years of age globally by an estimated 86.9 million deaths (95% CI: 57.2 million – 132.0 million), according to the study. The DPT and measles vaccines prevented 46.7 million (95% CI: 30 million-72.7 million) and 37.9 million (95% CI: 25.4 million-56.8 million) child deaths, respectively. The study also found that 84.2% of the reduction in child deaths “occurred in 73 countries supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, with an estimated 45.4 (95% CI: 29.8 to 69.2) million fewer deaths from 2000 to 2019.” Of these, “India, China, Ethiopia, Pakistan and Bangladesh (in order of the size of reduction)” were the countries with the largest reductions in child deaths. The findings highlight the continued critical role of vaccines in significantly reducing child mortality in Gavi-supported countries and suggest that investments in routine immunization programs should be further increased.
http://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.23.290129
04
WHO Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Global Market Study, January 2024
The World Health Organization (WHO) released the “Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Global Market Study” in 2024. The demand for seasonal influenza vaccines is concentrated in high-income and upper-middle-income countries, and they consume more than 95% of the global supply. Although the supplier base is abundant, more than 85% of the annual supply is provided by seven manufacturers. Improved vaccines account for only 10% of available influenza vaccines. Demand for seasonal influenza vaccines is projected to grow by 10% over the next 10 years, with a significant increase in demand in low- and middle-income countries.
05
Methods and Applications: Exploring the Lagged Correlation Between Baidu Index and Influenza-Like Illness — China, 2014–2019
This study, published in China CDC Weekly, aimed to investigate “the lagged correlation between Baidu Index for influenza-related keywords and influenza-like illness percentage (ILI%) across regions in China.” The study collected influenza-like illness incidence (ILI%) data (from weekly surveillance data provided by the National Influenza Center) and Baidu index data (the Baidu index is calculated based on the frequency of searches for specific keywords on Baidu webpages and categorized into overall index, general index, prevention index, symptom index, and treatment index, according to the topics of search queries) in 30 provincial-level administrative districts (PLADs) from April 2014 to March 2019. The lagged correlation between the Baidu index and ILI% was examined using the correlation function (CCF) method.
“The findings from the lagged correlation analysis between the Baidu Overall Index and ILI% reveal significant results”, with a median lag of 0.5 days. Subcategory analyses showed that the prevention and symptom indices were more responsive to ILI%, with median lags of -9 and -0.5 days, while the general and treatment indices had median lags of 0 and 3 days. The median lag between the Baidu index and ILI% was earlier in the northern PLAD than in the southern PLAD. Surveillance sentinel sites reported “weekly cases every Monday”, introducing a delay of 1–7 days from the case date”, whereas the Baidu Index webpage showed data from the previous day to the next day, only a day later than the real-time situation.
The study results showed a significant correlation between the Baidu Composite Index and ILI% and that the trends of the Prevention Index and Symptom Index preceded the ILI%. Future research should explore the development of prediction models based on the Prevention Index and Symptom Index in predicting influenza epidemics and providing early warnings.
https://weekly.chinacdc.cn/en/article/doi/10.46234/ccdcw2024.084
Content Editor: Linjing(Grace) Zhang
Page Editor: Ziqi Liu
