From Google Scholar & other sources: Selected Journal Articles, Newsletters, Dissertations, Theses, Commentary

Open Forum Infectious Diseases
Volume 1 Issue 3 Fall 2014
http://ofid.oxfordjournals.org/content/current

Hepatitis E Vaccine to Prevent Morbidity and Mortality During Epidemics
Kenrad E. Nelson1, James W.K. Shih2, Jun Zhang2, QingJian Zhao2, Ningshao Xia2,
John Ticehurst1 and Alain Labrique1
Author Affiliations
1Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
2National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, PR China
Abstract
Recurrent large water-borne epidemics of Hepatitis E occur regularly after monsoon rains contaminate water supplies in Asia or during humanitarian crises in Africa. These epidemics commonly affect thousands of persons with high mortality in pregnant women who become infected. Although a subunit HEV vaccine has been developed by Chinese investigators and found to be highly effective and safe in a large clinical trial, this vaccine is only available in China. Until it is pre-qualified by WHO, the vaccine may not be available for use outside China in low income countries who lack national vaccine regulatory agencies. In this manuscript we explore possible strategies for providing access to this potentially important vaccine for international use in responding to epidemics of HEV in low resource countries.
Tropical Medicine & International Health
November 2014 Volume 19, Issue 11 Pages 1293–1390
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/tmi.2014.19.issue-11/issuetoc

Systematic review
Non-clinical interventions for acute respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases among young children in developing countries
Miguel Niño Zarazúa1,* and Maureen Seguin2
DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12423
Accepted Article (Accepted, unedited articles published online and citable. The final edited and typeset version of record will appear in future.)
Abstract
Objective
To assess the effectiveness of non-clinical interventions against acute respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases among young children in developing countries.
Methods
Experimental and observational impact studies of non-clinical interventions aimed at reducing the incidence of mortality and/or morbidity among children due to acute respiratory infections and/or diarrhoeal diseases were reviewed, following the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and the PRISMA guidelines.
Results
Enhancing resources and/or infrastructure, and promoting behavioural changes, are effective policy strategies to reduce child morbidity and mortality due to diarrhoeal disease and acute respiratory infections in developing countries. Interventions targeting diarrhoeal incidence generally demonstrated a reduction, ranging from 18.3% to 61%. The wide range of impact size reflects the diverse design features of policies and the heterogeneity of socio-economic environments in which these policies were implemented. Sanitation promotion at household level seems to have a greater protective effect for small children.
Conclusion
Public investment in sanitation and hygiene, water supply and quality, and the provision of medical equipment that detect symptoms of childhood diseases, in combination of training and education for medical workers, are effective policy strategies to reduce diarrhoeal diseases and acute respiratory infections. More research is needed in the countries that are most affected by childhood diseases. There is a need for disaggregation of analysis by age-cohorts, as impact effectiveness of policies depends on children’s age.
Special Focus Newsletters
RotaFlash [PATH] October 29, 2014
Global total of national rotavirus vaccine introductions reaches 70 with Norway
New rotavirus vaccines advance in their development as rollouts continue to rise