Introduction of New and Underutilized Vaccines: Sustaining Access, Disease Control, and Infrastructure Development

For vaccines to reach the greatest number of people requires access, accelerated regional disease control, and the development of public health infrastructure

Rubella Elimination and Improving Health Care for Women1

Health care for women can be improved by strengthening adult health services, improving health awareness and community participation, decentralizing decision-making, and using epidemiologic surveillance

Consideraciones para la vacunación en caso de una pandemia de influenza

ResumenLa influenza es una de las enfermedades infecciosas que resulta en una alta carga de enfermedad por las epidemias estaciónales que produce cada año. Tambien puede producir pandemias con alta disrupción socialy pérdidas económicas. La pandemia de gripe española de 1918 ocasionó entre 40 y 50 millones de muertes a nivel mundial. Ante la inminencia de una pandemia producida probablemente producida por la cepa A/H5N1, la elavoración de los planes de preparación contra la pandemia de influenza debe ser una prioridad en todos los países.[Ropero AM, Andrus J. Consideraciones para la vacunación en caso de una pandemia de influenza. MedUNAB 2005; 8:191-6].Palabras clave: Influenza, Pandemia, Vacunación

Considerations for vaccination in the event of an influenza pandemic

La influenza es una de las enfermedades infecciosas que resulta en una alta carga de enfermedad por las epidemias estaciónales que produce cada año. También puede producir pandemias con alta disrupción social y pérdidas económicas. La pandemia de gri-pe española de 1918 ocasionó entre 40 y 50 millones de muertes a nivel mundial. Ante la inminencia de una pandemia producida probablemente por la cepa A/H5N1, la elaboración de los planes de preparación contra la pandemia de infl uenza debe ser una prioridad en todos los países. La vigilancia epidemiológica y la preparación de vacunas son imprescindibles para el control de la infl uenza y prevenir sus efectos devastadores. La producción mundial de vacunas contra infl uenza estacional es muy limitada, actualmente es de 300 millones de dosis y todo el ciclo de producción toma aproximadamente entre 6 y 9 meses después de la identifi cación de los virus circulantes. En caso de una pandemia se requerirá dos dosis de vacuna para proteger a cada individuo, por lo cual se estima que sólo un 14% de la población tendría acceso a una vacuna monovalente en los primeros meses de la pandemia. En el marco de los planes nacionales de preparación contra la pandemia, la vacunación de la población a mayor riesgo debe estar claramente definida antes de la crisis y no durante la misma. [Ropero AM, Andrus J. Consideraciones para la vacunación en caso de una pandemia de influenza. MedUNAB 2005; 8:191-6].Influenza, or fl u, is one of the infectious diseases associated with a high burden of disease, owing to seasonal epidemics each year. It can also generate pandemics leading to a high degree of social disruption and substantial economic losses. The Spanish fl u pan-demic of 1918 was responsible for some 40 to 50 million deaths worldwide. Given the imminence of a pandemic, most likely produced by the A/H5N1 strain, drafting preparedness plans for an infl uenza pandemic should be a priority in all countries. Epidemiological surveillance and vaccine production are essential for the control of infl uenza and the prevention of its devastating effects. The global production of vaccines to fi ght seasonal infl uenza is very limited. Some 300 million doses are currently produced worldwide, with the full production cycle taking 6 to 9 months once the circulating viruses are identifi ed. In a pandemic, two doses of vaccine will be required to protect each individual; thus, it has been estimated that only about 14% of the population would have access to a monovalent vaccine in the early months of a pandemic. National pandemic preparedness plans should clearly defi ne the high-risk populations that should be given priority in vaccination. This should be done before the crisis hits, not in the midst of it. [Ropero AM, Andrus J. Considerations to vaccination in infl uenza pandemia. MedUNAB 2005; 8:191-6]

Ears of the Armadillo: Global Health Research and Neglected Diseases in Texas

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) have\ud been recently identified as significant public\ud health problems in Texas and elsewhere in\ud the American South. A one-day forum on the\ud landscape of research and development and\ud the hidden burden of NTDs in Texas\ud explored the next steps to coordinate advocacy,\ud public health, and research into a\ud cogent health policy framework for the\ud American NTDs. It also highlighted how\ud U.S.-funded global health research can serve\ud to combat these health disparities in the\ud United States, in addition to benefiting\ud communities abroad

Expansion of seasonal influenza vaccination in the Americas

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Seasonal influenza is a viral disease whose annual epidemics are estimated to cause three to five million cases of severe illness and 250,000 to 500,000 deaths worldwide. Vaccination is the main strategy for primary prevention.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To assess the status of influenza vaccination in the Americas, influenza vaccination data reported to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) through 2008 were analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Thirty-five countries and territories administered influenza vaccine in their public health sector, compared to 13 countries in 2004. Targeted risk groups varied. Sixteen countries reported coverage among older adults, ranging from 21% to 100%; coverage data were not available for most countries and targeted populations. Some tropical countries used the Northern Hemisphere vaccine formulation and others used the Southern Hemisphere vaccine formulation. In 2008, approximately 166.3 million doses of seasonal influenza vaccine were purchased in the Americas; 30 of 35 countries procured their vaccine through PAHO's Revolving Fund.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Since 2004 there has been rapid uptake of seasonal influenza vaccine in the Americas. Challenges to fully implement influenza vaccination remain, including difficulties measuring coverage rates, variable vaccine uptake, and limited surveillance and effectiveness data to guide decisions regarding vaccine formulation and timing, especially in tropical countries.</p

Impact of vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae type b with and without a booster dose on meningitis in four South American countries

Fil: García, Salvador. Pan American Health Organization, Washington DC; Estados Unidos.Fil: Lagos, Rosanna. Centro para Vacunas en Desarrollo (CVD-Chile), Santiago; Chile.Fil: Muñoz, Alma. Centro para Vacunas en Desarrollo (CVD-Chile), Santiago; Chile.Fil: Picón, Teresa. National Immunization Program and Department of Epidemiologic Surveillance, Ministry of Health, Montevideo; Uruguay.Fil: Rosa, Raquel. National Immunization Program and Department of Epidemiologic Surveillance, Ministry of Health, Montevideo; Uruguay.Fil: Alfonso, Adriana. National Immunization Program and Department of Epidemiologic Surveillance, Ministry of Health, Montevideo; Uruguay.Fil: Abriata, Graciela. Instituto Nacional del Cáncer, Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Gentile, Angela. Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutierrez, Epidemiología, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Romanin, Viviana. Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutierrez, Epidemiología, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Regueira, Mabel. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas; Argentina.Fil: Chiavetta, Laura. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas; Argentina.Fil: Agudelo, Clara Inés. Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá; Colombia.Fil: Castañeda, Elizabeth. Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá; Colombia.Fil: De la Hoz, Fernando. Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Salud Pública, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá; Colombia.Fil: Higuera, Ana Betty. Secretaria de Salud de Bogotá, Bogotá; Colombia.Fil: Arce, Patricia. Secretaria de Salud de Bogotá, Bogotá; Colombia.Fil: Cohen, Adam L.. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA; Estados Unidos.Fil: Verani, Jennifer. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA; Estados Unidos.Fil: Zuber, Patrick. Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, World Health Organization, Geneva; Suiza.Fil: Gabastou, Jean-Marc. Pan American Health Organization, Washington DC; Estados Unidos.Fil: Pastor, Desiree. Pan American Health Organization, Washington DC; Estados Unidos.Fil: Flannery, Brendan. Pan American Health Organization, Washington DC; Estados Unidos.Fil: Andrus, Jon. Pan American Health Organization, Washington DC; Estados Unidos.To inform World Health Organization recommendations regarding use of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccines in national immunization programs, a multi-country evaluation of trends in Hib meningitis incidence and prevalence of nasopharyngeal Hib carriage was conducted in four South American countries using either a primary, three-dose immunization schedule without a booster dose or with a booster dose in the second year of life. Surveillance data suggest that high coverage of Hib conjugate vaccine sustained low incidence of Hib meningitis and low prevalence of Hib carriage whether or not a booster dose was used

Impact of vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae type b with and without a booster dose on meningitis in four South American countries

Fil: García, Salvador. Pan American Health Organization, Washington DC; Estados Unidos.Fil: Lagos, Rosanna. Centro para Vacunas en Desarrollo (CVD-Chile), Santiago; Chile.Fil: Muñoz, Alma. Centro para Vacunas en Desarrollo (CVD-Chile), Santiago; Chile.Fil: Picón, Teresa. National Immunization Program and Department of Epidemiologic Surveillance, Ministry of Health, Montevideo; Uruguay.Fil: Rosa, Raquel. National Immunization Program and Department of Epidemiologic Surveillance, Ministry of Health, Montevideo; Uruguay.Fil: Alfonso, Adriana. National Immunization Program and Department of Epidemiologic Surveillance, Ministry of Health, Montevideo; Uruguay.Fil: Abriata, Graciela. Instituto Nacional del Cáncer, Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Gentile, Angela. Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutierrez, Epidemiología, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Romanin, Viviana. Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutierrez, Epidemiología, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Regueira, Mabel. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas; Argentina.Fil: Chiavetta, Laura. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas; Argentina.Fil: Agudelo, Clara Inés. Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá; Colombia.Fil: Castañeda, Elizabeth. Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá; Colombia.Fil: De la Hoz, Fernando. Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Salud Pública, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá; Colombia.Fil: Higuera, Ana Betty. Secretaria de Salud de Bogotá, Bogotá; Colombia.Fil: Arce, Patricia. Secretaria de Salud de Bogotá, Bogotá; Colombia.Fil: Cohen, Adam L.. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA; Estados Unidos.Fil: Verani, Jennifer. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA; Estados Unidos.Fil: Zuber, Patrick. Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, World Health Organization, Geneva; Suiza.Fil: Gabastou, Jean-Marc. Pan American Health Organization, Washington DC; Estados Unidos.Fil: Pastor, Desiree. Pan American Health Organization, Washington DC; Estados Unidos.Fil: Flannery, Brendan. Pan American Health Organization, Washington DC; Estados Unidos.Fil: Andrus, Jon. Pan American Health Organization, Washington DC; Estados Unidos.To inform World Health Organization recommendations regarding use of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccines in national immunization programs, a multi-country evaluation of trends in Hib meningitis incidence and prevalence of nasopharyngeal Hib carriage was conducted in four South American countries using either a primary, three-dose immunization schedule without a booster dose or with a booster dose in the second year of life. Surveillance data suggest that high coverage of Hib conjugate vaccine sustained low incidence of Hib meningitis and low prevalence of Hib carriage whether or not a booster dose was used