Immunization Coverage
01
National Health Commission: free HPV vaccination covers about 40% of school-age girls nationwide
On October 18, National Health Commission (NHC) held a press conference to introduce China’s latest progress in cervical cancer prevention and treatment. In recent years, the NHC has guided local governments to follow the three-tier prevention and treatment strategy for cervical cancer, and vigorously promoted prevention, early screening, early diagnosis and early treatment of cervical cancer through comprehensive measures and multiple initiatives.
Since 2021, 11 provinces, including Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Chongqing, Tibet, Zhejiang, Shandong, Hubei, Guangxi, and other cities such as Zhengzhou, Ordos, and Chengdu, have included HPV vaccination in the government’s pilot project By using government funding to purchase services or providing fixed subsidies, school-age girls aged 13-14 are eligible of free HPV vaccination. Up to now, the pilot program has covered about 40% of eligible girls nationwide. In addition, free cervical cancer screening has covered 2,765 counties (cities and districts) nationwide, with a cumulative total of 280 million free screenings having been carried out, and 902,000 cases of cervical cancer and precancerous lesions having been detected, thus promoting early detection, diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer. The NHC, in close cooperation with the Women’s Federation, has provided medical assistance to a total of 275,000 cervical cancer patients with financial difficulties.
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/zGKazVXa_XY-6Atfofrb0g
02
Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi) supports vaccination in developing countries to avert 1.3 million future deaths in 2023
Gavi issued ‘Gavi’s Annual Progress Report 2023’ on 1 October 2024. The report showed that over 1.3 million future deaths were averted in 2023 thanks to vaccination programmes supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
With 69 million children immunised in 2023, the second highest number of children immunised in one year ever. Other highlights of 2023 for the Alliance include major progress against cervical cancer, with 14 million girls vaccinated against HPV with Gavi support. This number is greater than the previous ten years combined. Gavi has now helped prevent over 600,000 future deaths from cervical cancer alone and is on track to reach 86 million girls by the end of 2025.
https://www.gavi.org/news/media-room/13-million-future-deaths-prevented-gavi-supported-vaccines-2023
Journal Content Recommendation
03
Effectiveness of Lanzhou Lamb Rotavirus Vaccine and RotaTeq Against Hospitalized Rotavirus Infections Among Children During 2020-2023 in Guangdong Province, China: A Test-Negative Case-Control Study
This study published in Infectious Disease Therapy, discussed the effectiveness of Lanzhou Lamb Rotavirus Vaccine (LLR) and RotaTeq (RV5) against gastroenteritis (RVGE) caused by emerging genotypes in Chinese children in 2020-2023. A test-negative case–control study was conducted using gastroenteritis surveillance data from four cities in Guangdong Province, enrolling 2,650 children aged 2 months to 5 years with acute gastroenteritis. Cases (218) were rotavirus-positive; controls (1543) were rotavirus-negative. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) was estimated using multivariable logistic regressions.
Among 2650 children, 218 (8.2%) were rotavirus-positive, predominantly G8P[8]. Also, 1543 (58.23%) children were unvaccinated, while 632 (23.85%) and 475 (17.92%) received at least one dose of RV5 and LLR, respectively. Adjusted RV5 VE against any RVGE severity was 51.7% (95% CI: − 58.1, 85.3%) for one dose, 37.6% (95% CI: − 58.5, 75.4%) for two doses, and 64.1% (95% CI: 38.0, 79.2%) for three doses. For LLR, VE against any RVGE severity was 38.7% (95% CI: 5.7, 60.2%) for one dose, 74.6% (95% CI: 35.3, 90.0%) for two doses, and 58.8% (95% CI: − 217.6, 94.6%) for three doses.
Against severe RVGE, RV5 VE was 67.2% (95% CI: − 144.7, 95.6%) for one dose, 74.0% (95% CI: − 92.1,96.5%) for two doses, and 86.6% (95% CI: 56.8, 95.9%) for three doses. For LLR, VE against severe RVGE was 57.7% (95% CI: 20.3, 77.6%) for one dose, 73.4% (95% CI: 11.9, 92.0%) for two doses, and − 27.8% (95% CI: − 949.7,84.4%) for three doses.
The study indicates that both RV5 and LLR provided protection against RVGE, including the emerging G8P[8] genotype. Three doses of RV5 offered strong protection, while two doses of LLR also appeared to be an effective strategy against rotavirus infection.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40121-024-01040-y
04
Surveillance of adverse events following immunization in China, 2021 – 2022
This study, published in the Chinese Journal of Vaccines and Immunization, analyzed surveillance data on adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) in China during 2021–2022. AEFIs are defined as reactions or events suspected to be related to vaccination that occur after immunization. These are categorized by cause into adverse reactions, episodic reactions, psychogenic reactions, vaccination accidents, and vaccine quality accidents. Events are classified as abnormal reactions if no other causes are identified. The study aims to assess the characteristics and reported incidence of AEFIs associated with listed vaccines to better understand the distribution and trends of adverse reactions following vaccination.
The study obtained data on AEFI reports and numbers of post-marketed vaccine doses administered during 2021-2022 from the Chinese Immunization Information Management System (excluding emergency-use or conditional-market vaccines). The study used descriptive analysis to analyze the basic characteristics of AEFIs, their reported incidence, and their severity. Reported incidence was calculated per 100,000 doses.
A total of 323 627 AEFI cases for 41 vaccines were reported in China during 2021-2022, yielding an overall incidence of 32. 52 cases per 100 000 doses administered, with 0. 15 per 100 000 doses (1 468 cases, 0. 45%) for serious AEFIs. The incidence per 100 000 doses was 31. 07 (309 163 cases, 95. 53% of all cases) for common adverse reactions and 1. 14 (11 381 cases, 3. 52%) for rare adverse reactions, with 0. 08 (759 cases, 0. 23%) for serious adverse reactions. Incidences per 100 000 doses for anaphylactic rash, angioedema, and thrombocytopenic purpura / thrombocytopenia were 0. 96 ( 9 528 cases), 0. 02 ( 232 cases), and 0. 02 (230 cases), respectively.
The reported incidence of AEFIs decreased slightly in China in 2021-2022. Most adverse reactions were mild, and serious reactions were extremely rare. There is a need to continue to strengthen AEFI surveillance reports and investigations in the future to ensure the safety of vaccination and public confidence in vaccination.
https://doi.org/10.19914/j.CJVI.2024079
05
Healthcare worker practices for HPV vaccine recommendation: A systematic review and meta-analysis
This study was published in Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, aimed to synthesize existing literature on healthcare workers’ HPV vaccine confidence and their practices of recommending this vaccine. The study conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis, with the search conducted last in March 2024. Seventy-three articles were included, ranging from different regions and populations.
The analysis showed that the overall proportion of healthcare professionals willing to recommend the HPV vaccine (73%, [95% CI: 0.65-0.80]) was higher than that of those who had already recommended the HPV vaccine (66%, [95% CI: 0.50-0.69]).The rate of HPV vaccine recommendation varied significantly between geographic regions and gender: in the European region, approximately 93% of healthcare professionals reported that they would recommend the HPV vaccine (95% CI: 0.80-0.99), while in the Eastern Mediterranean region this rate was only 19% (95% CI: 0.16-0.22).
Health workers were more likely to recommend HPV vaccination for girls at 58% (95% CI: 0.40-0.75), compared with 29% (95% CI: 0.18-0.41) for boys. However, there were no statistically significant differences in recommended practices based on income levels and comparisons before and after the HPV vaccine was included in the national immunization program. Further analysis of the study found that the main barriers to HPV vaccine recommendation among healthcare professionals included concerns about vaccine safety and efficacy, the cost of HPV vaccine, and parental vaccine hesitancy.
The findings suggest that significant HPV vaccine hesitancy exists among healthcare workers, but their recommendation behaviors vary depending on a variety of factors, and that site-specific strategies, increased HPV vaccine literacy, and addressing systemic issues (e.g., cost, stockpile issues, and accessibility) should be employed to increase healthcare workers’ confidence in the HPV vaccine and to promote their recommendation behaviors.
https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2024.2402122
Content Editor: Ziqi Liu
Page Editor: Ziqi Liu
