Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics (formerly Human Vaccines)
Volume 9, Issue 6    June 2013
http://www.landesbioscience.com/journals/vaccines/toc/volume/9/issue/5/

Special Section: NIC23
EDITOR’S CORNER
NIC23
David Baxter and Martin J. Guppy
Full Text

SPECIAL FOCUS REVIEWS
The evidence for use of pneumococcal conjugate over polysaccharide in children
Ray Borrow
Abstract | Full Text

Meningococcal group B vaccines
Jamie Findlow
Abstract | Full Text

Should childhood MMR vaccination be compulsory? Rights, duties and the public interest
Julian Sheather
Abstract:
When children and young people lack the capacity to make decisions about their care and treatment, decisions have to be made on their behalf based on an assessment of their welfare or interests. In law, parents, or others with the relevant parental responsibility, are ordinarily regarded as the appropriate decision-makers. One way of framing this is to say that parents have certain decision-making rights with respect to their children. Such rights, however, are not generally regarded as absolute, rather they can be seen as secondary to and limited by the duties that parents have with regard to their children, duties to promote their welfare. It is against these parental duties that children could, at least in theory if not in practice, claim a right to certain kinds of protection. The legal rights of parents here, as opposed to the rights of the children, can be thought of as rights that secure for parents the freedom from interference necessary to fulfill the underlying duty.

Pneumococcal vaccination of older adults: conjugate or polysaccharide?
David S. Fedson
Abstract | Full Text

Accessing hard to reach groups, travelers and looked after children
Fiona Print

Improving vaccine uptake: An overview
Michelle Anne Falconer
Abstract | Full Text
Abstract:
A task group was formed with the aim to improve the quality of the service offered by ensuring that all children waiting for an appointment for vaccination would be offered one at the earliest opportunity. Children aged between 12 mo–5 y that were not completely immunized for their age were identified and included in a pilot catch-up session. Following evaluation of the pilot session, four further immunization sessions were delivered. A total of 398 children attended the four sessions, representing an improved attendance rate of 39%. Most parents brought their children between 11am–3pm and 728 vaccines were administered: 339 MMR; 255 Pre-school boosters; 53 Hib/MenC and 81 PCV. Uptake of MMR vaccine in the PCT at age 24 mo increased by 9% by Q3 2008. For children aged five years, uptake of the first dose of MMR vaccine increased from 91.9% to 94% for the first dose and from 82.3 to 82.5% for the second dose by Q3 2008. This project demonstrates that new ways of delivering immunization sessions can be successfully implemented which can enhance access through the use of alternative venues and subsequently lead to increased vaccine uptake.

The effect of ageing of the immune system on vaccination responses
Janet M. Lord
Abstract | Full Text | PDF