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

Vaccine
Available online 15 December 2014
Evaluation of invalid vaccine doses in 31 countries of the WHO African Region
Manas K. Akmatova, b, Elizabeth Kimani-Muragec, Frank Pesslerb, Carlos A. Guzmand, Gérard Krausea, e, Lothar Kreienbrockf, Rafael T. Mikolajczyka, e
Highlights
:: A systematic evaluation of invalid vaccinations, i.e. vaccinations administered earlier than recommended or with too short intervals between vaccine doses, in countries of the WHO African Region has not been performed yet.
:: We found that in most African countries a relevant proportion of vaccines were administered at ages or intervals not compliant with established recommendations.
:: Invalid vaccinations were partly associated with individual and with community associated factors.
:: Community contextual factors should be considered when planning immunisation services.
Abstract
We examined (a) the fraction of and extent to which vaccinations were administered earlier than recommended (age-invalid) or with too short intervals between vaccine doses (interval-invalid) in countries of the World Health Organisation (WHO) African Region and (b) individual- and community-level factors associated with invalid vaccinations using multilevel techniques. Data from the Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in the last 10 years in 31 countries were used. Information about childhood vaccinations was based on vaccination records (n = 134,442). Invalid vaccinations (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis [DTP1, DTP3] and measles-containing vaccine (MCV)) were defined using the WHO criteria. The median percentages of invalid DTP1, DTP3 and MCV vaccinations across all countries were 12.1% (interquartile range, 9.4–15.2%), 5.7% (5.0–7.6%), and 15.5% (10.0–18.1%), respectively. Of the invalid DTP1 vaccinations, 7.4% and 5.5% were administered at child’s age of less than one and two weeks, respectively. In 12 countries, the proportion of invalid DTP3 vaccinations administered with an interval of less than two weeks before the preceding dose varied between 30% and 50%. In 13 countries, the proportion of MCV doses administered at child’s age of less than six months varied between 20% and 45%. Community-level variables explained part of the variation in invalid vaccinations. Invalid vaccinations are common in African countries. Timing of childhood vaccinations should be improved to ensure an optimal protection against vaccine-preventable infections and to avoid unnecessary wastage in these economically deprived countries.
Journal of Hospital Infection
Available online 16 December 2014
Sociocognitive predictors of the intention of healthcare workers to receive the influenza vaccine in Belgian, Dutch and German hospital settings
B.A. Lehmanna, R.A.C. Ruitera, D. van Damb, S. Wickerc, G. Koka
Abstract
Background
Influenza vaccination of healthcare workers (HCWs) is recommended to prevent the transmission of influenza to vulnerable patients. Nevertheless, vaccination coverage rates of HCWs in European countries have been low.
Aim
To investigate the relative and combined strength of sociocognitive variables, from past research, theory and a qualitative study, in explaining the motivation of HCWs to receive the influenza vaccine.
Methods
An anonymous, online questionnaire was distributed among HCWs in hospital settings in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands between February and April 2013.
Findings
Attitude and past vaccination uptake explained a considerable amount of variance in the intention of HCWs to receive the influenza vaccine. Moreover, low perceived social norms, omission bias, low moral norms, being older, having no patient contact, and being Belgian or Dutch (compared with German) increased the probability of having no intention to receive the influenza vaccine compared with being undecided about vaccination. High intention to receive the influenza vaccine was shown to be more likely than being undecided about vaccination when HCWs had high perceived susceptibility of contracting influenza, low naturalistic views, and lower motivation to receive the vaccine solely for self-protection.
Conclusion
Country-specific interventions and a focus on different sociocognitive variables depending on the intention/lack of intention of HCWs to receive the influenza vaccine may be beneficial to promote vaccination uptake.