BMC Public Health
(Accessed 9 August 2014)
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcpublichealth/content

Research article
Factors associated with hepatitis B vaccine series completion in a randomized trial for injection drug users reached through syringe exchange programs in three US cities
Sarah Bowman, Lauretta E Grau, Merrill Singer, Greg Scott, Robert Heimer BMC Public Health 2014, 14:820 (9 August 2014)
Provisional PDF

Commentary
Costs and benefits of influenza vaccination: more evidence, same challenges
Bruno Christian Ciancio and Giovanni Rezza
BMC Public Health 2014, 14:818 doi:10.1186/1471-2458-14-818
Published: 8 August 2014
Abstract (provisional)
Seasonal influenza vaccination coverage in most EU/EEA remains suboptimal. Providers’ and users’ confidence in influenza vaccines is undermined by reports of moderate to low vaccine effectiveness and by the lack of solid evidence on disease burden. A study from Preaud and co. indicates that even with current levels of vaccine effectiveness, increasing vaccination coverage would significantly reduce disease burden and health cost. The results of the study should be interpreted cautiously because some of the assumptions are not generalizable or are imprecise, especially those on vaccine coverage, disease burden and health cost. Increasing vaccination coverage in EU/EEA countries is very challenging. Multifaceted approaches and country specific strategies are needed to address vaccine hesitancy in health care workers and in the population, and to manage organisational and financial obstacles. One key element for increasing vaccination coverage is the development of better influenza vaccines, e.g. vaccines that are more effective, provide longer lasting immunity and do not require annual administration. Vaccine producers should consider this as the highest research priority in the field of influenza vaccine development..

Research article
Annual public health and economic benefits of seasonal influenza vaccination: a European estimate
Emmanuelle Preaud, Laure Durand, Bérengère Macabeo, Norbert Farkas, Brigitte Sloesen, Abraham Palache, Francis Shupo, Sandrine I Samson
BMC Public Health 2014, 14:813 (7 August 2014)
Provisional PDF