MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 7 May 2016]
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news-stories/press/press-releases

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Field news
Responding to a Meningitis Outbreak in Niger
May 05, 2016
Since the beginning of 2016, an outbreak of meningitis C has hit every region of Niger. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) emergency teams have been working with the Nigerien Ministry of Health (MoH) to contain the epidemic since January. The number of weekly cases is now decreasing, but there are insufficient stocks of vaccine available to protect those at risk in the event of another outbreak.

According to official figures, 1,199 cases of meningitis C have been identified and 87 people have died of the disease, mostly in the western part of the country. There was a steady rise in cases from January to mid-March, after which the number of new infections started to fall.
Since the beginning of the epidemic, MSF has been supporting the MoH in monitoring the affected areas, vaccinating people, and providing free treatment to patients. To contain the epidemic in the worst-affected areas, MSF conducted targeted vaccination campaigns in collaboration with the MoH. More than 254,000 people were vaccinated in the health districts of Tillabéri, Dosso, and Tahoua regions, using doses obtained from the International Coordination Group for the supply of vaccines, as well as MoH and MSF stocks. Another 126,000 vaccine doses are expected to arrive at the end of April.

A Lack of Vaccines Worldwide
According to the preparedness and response plan for meningitis epidemics in Niger, 2.8 million people should be vaccinated if an outbreak affects 21 health districts. Thus far, however, immunization campaigns have been carried out in just six. “The problem is that, nationally and globally, not enough meningitis C vaccines are available and the vaccine is expensive,” says Dr. Idrissa Compaoré, MSF medical coordinator. “Manufacturers need to urgently increase their production and sell it at an affordable price, but they are not doing so.”

In addition to organizing vaccination activities, MSF works with the MoH to prevent new cases by training public sector laboratory staff in diagnostics, testing, and the transport of samples. “If we don’t have vaccines, it is essential that we identify and confirm new cases as soon as possible, to prevent the disease from spreading. Information must be collected and shared, and patients treated without delay,” says Dr. Compaoré…

IVI – International Vaccine Institute [to 7 May 2016]
http://www.ivi.org/web/www/home

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[undated]
IVI Appoints Jee, Youngmee, Hanna Nohynek, and Lee, Kyu Hyung to its Board of Trustees
The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) today announced the appointments of Dr. Jee, Youngmee, Mr. Lee, Kyu Hyung, and Dr. Hanna Nohynek to its Board of Trustees. Dr. Jee’s appointment was effective as of April 5, 2016 while Mr. Lee and Dr. Nohynek will start their term on May 24, 2016.

“Dr. Jee and Dr. Nohynek are well-respected physicians and scientists from South Korea and Finland, while Mr. Lee is a distinguished veteran diplomat from South Korea,” said Dr. Jerome Kim, IVI Director General. “They bring leadership experience from their respective fields of virology, vaccinology, and foreign affairs, and I am pleased that they are joining IVI’s board.”
Dr. Jee, Youngmee is Director General of the Center for Pathology and Immunology at the National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (KCDC)…

Mr. Lee, Kyu Hyung is Advisor to the Samsung Economic Research Institute. A career diplomat for more than 35 years, Mr. Lee was the South Korean Ambassador to China, Bangladesh, and Russia…

Dr. Hanna Nohynek is Chief Medical Officer, Team Leader of Vaccine Programme Development at National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) in Finland…

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[undated]
New Appointments on IVI Management Team
– New Deputy Director General of Government Affairs & Governance, Head of Biostatistics, and Head of Program Management onboard
These new appointments reflect the strategic and organizational changes taking place at IVI since January, 2016. Key hires and appointments have been made over the past few months as part of IVI’s strategic renewal. These individuals bring seniority and experience in vaccine-related research and management to IVI, and they are instrumental in bolstering IVI’s scientific leadership, management and operations.

Dr. Han, Kyung-Taik is the Deputy Director General of IVI’s Government Affairs & Governance Unit as of April 4, 2016. This newly established unit will oversee engagement with the Korean government and other stakeholders in the Republic of Korea (IVI’s host country), and ensure that governance and internal control are in compliance with donor requirements and international accounting standards. As Deputy Director General, Dr. Han will also serve on IVI’s leadership team…

Dr. Julia A. Lynch is the Head of IVI’s Program Management Unit, effective May 6, 2016. This unit will be responsible for project management and grant management…

Dr. Yun Chon is the Head of IVI’s Biostatistics & Data Management Department as of April 1, 2016. This department, under the Development & Delivery Unit, is responsible for biostatistics and data management in support of IVI’s research activities including epidemiologic and clinical studies. The department also provides training and technical support to IVI collaborators and their research activities from middle- and low-income countries….

Sabin Vaccine Institute [to 7 May 2016]
http://www.sabin.org/updates/ressreleases

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May 2, 2016
Scott N. Wulfe Joins Sabin Vaccine Institute Board of Trustees
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Sabin Vaccine Institute (Sabin) today announced that Scott N. Wulfe, has joined its Board of Trustees. Mr. Wulfe is the managing partner of Vinson & Elkins LLP, an international law firm based in Houston.

Fondation Merieux [to 7 May 2016]
Mission: Contribute to global health by strengthening local capacities of developing countries to reduce the impact of infectious diseases on vulnerable populations.
http://www.fondation-merieux.org/news

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5 May 2016, Port-au-Prince (Haiti)
SPHaïtiLAB Conducts 1st Assessment of Biomedical Analysis Laboratories in Haiti
Providing essential data to build a national laboratory policy tailored to the country’s needs.
The 1st assessment of biomedical analysis laboratories in Haiti is presented today at the Kinam Hotel, under the high authority of the Ministry of Public Health and Population. Mr. Vincent Degert, European Union Ambassador to Haiti, Mrs. Elisabeth Beton Delègue, French Ambassador to Haiti, Dr. Jacques Boncy, Director of the National Public Health Laboratory (LNSP), Dr. Paul Adrien, Director of the Department of Laboratory and Research Epidemiology (DELR), Dr. Stalz Charles Vilbrun of the Haitian Group for the Study of Kaposi’s Sarcoma and Opportunistic Infections (GHESKIO) and Mr. Benoît Miribel, Director General of Fondation Mérieux, as well as representatives from WHO, the U.S. CDC and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) will also be among the participants. This analysis is the first result of the SPHaïtiLAB project, designed by the LNSP as part of the Ministry of Public Health and Population’s ambitious plan to reinforce the country’s laboratory sector.

On the occasion of this presentation, the European Union Ambassador to Haiti, Vincent Degert, declared: “The European Union is proud to support this initiative for which it has mobilized a 1,432,000 euro funding package. This project is very timely to help improve epidemiological surveillance, an essential part of a health system.” He went on to add: “Health, like education, is the measure of a country’s human development. We hope that this project, by supporting the country’s main stakeholders in health and laboratory policy, will effect real change in the prevention of disease and help fulfill the legitimate aspiration of each and every Haitian to benefit fully from the well-being and harmony that good health brings.”

The laboratory plays a vital role, giving doctors the information they need to provide good patient care. It is also an essential tool for the surveillance of epidemics. SPHaïtiLAB aims to improve the health of the Haitian population by providing analysis and strategic advice on laboratory and research policy. Funded by the European Union, the project is led by the LNSP in partnership with the DELR, the GHESKIO Centers and the African Institute of Public Health (IASP) of Burkina Faso. Fondation Mérieux manages the project and provides financial support…

Global Fund [to 7 May 2016]
http://www.theglobalfund.org/

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03 May 2016
Luxembourg Increases Contribution to the Global Fund
LUXEMBOURG – Luxembourg is increasing its financial commitment to the Global Fund for the next three-year replenishment cycle starting in 2017, to €8.1 million, an 8 percent increase from the last replenishment period.

Romain Schneider, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, announced the increase today at a meeting in Luxembourg with Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund.

AERAS [to 7 May 2016]
http://www.aeras.org/pressreleases

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May 4 , 2016
Healthcare Workers Face Up To Six Times the Risk of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis as General Population
Editor’s note: these studies are being released in the May 15 print edition of a special supplement to the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases titled “Healthcare Workers and Tuberculosis Prevention”. The full supplement is free to view.

New research suggests urgent action needed to combat tuberculosis among healthcare workers in poorer countries
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ROCKVILLE, Md., USA Globally, healthcare workers face three times the risk of contracting tuberculosis as the general population, and the risks of multidrug-resistant disease is higher still: up to six times higher for healthcare workers in South Africa, according to new reports that are part of a healthcare worker-focused supplement in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. Up to one-third of affected healthcare workers die of this airborne disease.

Study authors reported that risks are compounded by the lack of an effective vaccine and facilitated by neglect of basic infection control measures such as adequate ventilation. Furthermore, young, vulnerable healthcare workers often fail to appreciate the risks they face. Therefore, health workers who are crucial to ending the epidemic frequently become both victims and transmitters of the disease.

“A person dies every 21 seconds from tuberculosis, some of whom are frontline caregivers,” said Thomas G. Evans, co-editor of the special supplement of articles and formerly Chief Scientific Officer at Aeras, a nonprofit, global biotech organization developing new tuberculosis vaccines. “Ending the epidemic requires resources, political will, and innovation, starting with protection of our health workforce.” …

Reports/Research/Analysis/Commentary/Conferences/Meetings/Book Watch/Tenders

Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review has expanded its coverage of new reports, books, research and analysis published independent of the journal channel covered in Journal Watch below. Our interests span immunization and vaccines, as well as global public health, health governance, and associated themes. If you would like to suggest content to be included in this service, please contact David Curry at: david.r.curry@centerforvaccineethicsandpolicy.org

On the fast track to ending the AIDS epidemic
Implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the Political Declarations on HIV and AIDS
Report of the Secretary-General
A/70/811 :: 31 pages
UN General Assembly; Seventieth session ; Agenda item 11
[Excerpts: report paragraphs which reference vaccines]
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7. Ending AIDS requires HIV and other health and social needs to be met throughout a lifetime, including when a person is at risk of acquiring HIV, when a person requires lifetime access to treatment and when an individual, family or community may have to care for orphans and people living with HIV. Ending AIDS demands focusing resources in the countries, districts, subdistricts and city boroughs most affected and tailoring services to populations at risk and communities living in fragile contexts. It requires people-centred innovation, from transforming and reinforcing community-and facility-based service delivery to developing more effective, affordable health products, including a vaccine and cure.

39. Ending the AIDS epidemic is only possible if all people living with and affected by HIV can access affordable, quality health products. Innovation is required to enable access to point-of-care diagnostics and affordable, optimized prevention tools, including women-initiated technologies, and medicines including second-and third-line antiretroviral therapy regimens and for tuberculosis and hepatitis B and C, as well as a vaccine and cure. Recognizing that countries of all income levels struggle to provide access to affordable, quality medicines, vaccines and diagnostics, I have convened a high-level panel on access to medicines. The panel is mandated to assess and recommend solutions for remedying the policy incoherence among the rights of inventors, international human rights law, trade rules and public health, and will deliver its final report in June 2016.

64. Delivery of innovative products must be further encouraged through scaled-up investments in research and the development of more tolerable, efficacious and affordable health products, including: simpler, longer-lasting drug formulations for children, adolescents and adults; second-and third-line therapy; diagnostics; prevention technologies, including vaccines; and a cure.

V. Embracing sustainable development solutions to fast-track an accelerated, rights-based AIDS response: Recommendations
…(j) Boldly pursue new scientific solutions and expand investment in research and development for improved diagnostics, easier and more tolerable treatment regimens, therapeutic vaccines and other prevention technologies as well as a functional cure and ensure affordability by aligning trade rules and public health objectives under a human rights framework…

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Press release
New report shows that urgent action is needed to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030
NEW YORK, 06 May 2016—A new report released by the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, warns that the AIDS epidemic could be prolonged indefinitely if urgent action is not implemented within the next five years. The report, On the Fast-Track to end the AIDS epidemic, reveals that the extraordinary acceleration of progress made over the past 15 years could be lost and urges all partners to concentrate their efforts to increase and front-load investments to ensure that the global AIDS epidemic is ended as a public health threat by 2030…

Journal Watch

Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review continues its weekly scanning of key peer-reviewed journals to identify and cite articles, commentary and editorials, books reviews and other content supporting our focus on vaccine ethics and policy. Journal Watch is not intended to be exhaustive, but indicative of themes and issues the Center is actively tracking. We selectively provide full text of some editorial and comment articles that are specifically relevant to our work. Successful access to some of the links provided may require subscription or other access arrangement unique to the publisher.

  If you would like to suggest other journal titles to include in this service, please contact David Curry at: david.r.curry@centerforvaccineethicsandpolicy.org

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
May 2016; 94 (5)
http://www.ajtmh.org/content/current

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Perspective Piece
Modeling Key Malaria Drugs’ Impact on Global Health: A Reason to Invest in the Global Health Impact Index
Nicole Hassoun
Am J Trop Med Hyg 2016 94:942-946; Published online February 8, 2016, doi:10.4269/ajtmh.15-0409
Abstract
Millions of people cannot access good quality essential medicines they need for some of the world’s worst diseases like malaria. The World Health Organization estimates that, in 2013, 198 million people became sick with malaria and 584,000 people died of the disease, while the Institute for Health Metrics Evaluation estimates that there were 164,929,872 cases of malaria in 2013 and 854,568 deaths in 2013. There are many attempts to model different aspects of the global burden of tropical diseases like malaria, but it is also important to measure success in averting malaria-related death and disability. This perspective proposes investing in a systematic effort to measure the benefits of health interventions for malaria along the lines of a model embodied in the Global Health Impact Index (global-health-impact.org).

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Surveying the Knowledge and Practices of Health Professionals in China, India, Iran, and Mexico on Treating Tuberculosis
Steven J. Hoffman, G. Emmanuel Guindon, John N. Lavis, Harkanwal Randhawa, Francisco Becerra-Posada, Masoumeh Dejman, Katayoun Falahat, Hossein Malek-Afzali, Parasurama Ramachandran, Guang Shi, and C. A. K. Yesudian
Abstract
Research evidence continues to reveal findings important for health professionals’ clinical practices, yet it is not consistently disseminated to those who can use it. The resulting deficits in knowledge and service provision may be especially pronounced in low- and middle-income countries that have greater resource constraints. Tuberculosis treatment is an important area for assessing professionals’ knowledge and practices because of the effectiveness of existing treatments and recognized gaps in professionals’ knowledge about treatment. This study surveyed 384 health professionals in China, India, Iran, and Mexico on their knowledge and practices related to tuberculosis treatment. Few respondents correctly answered all five knowledge questions (12%) or self-reported performing all five recommended clinical practices “often or very often” (3%). Factors associated with higher knowledge scores included clinical specialization and working with researchers. Factors associated with better practices included training in the care of tuberculosis patients, being based in a hospital, trusting systematic reviews of randomized controlled double-blind trials, and reading summaries of articles, reports, and reviews. This study highlights several strategies that may prove effective in improving health professionals’ knowledge and practices related to tuberculosis treatment. Facilitating interactions with researchers and training in acquiring systematic reviews may be especially helpful.

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Effectiveness of Oral Cholera Vaccine in Haiti: 37-Month Follow-Up
Karine Sévère, Vanessa Rouzier, Stravinsky Benedict Anglade, Claudin Bertil, Patrice Joseph,
Alexandra Deroncelay, Marie Marcelle Mabou, Peter F. Wright, Florence Duperval Guillaume,
and Jean William Pape
Am J Trop Med Hyg 2016 94:1136-1142; Published online February 29, 2016, doi:10.4269/ajtmh.15-0700
Abstract
The first oral cholera vaccine (OCV) campaign, since its prequalification by the World Health Organization, in response to an ongoing cholera epidemic (reactive vaccination) was successfully conducted in a poor urban slum of approximately 70,000 inhabitants in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in 2012. Vaccine coverage was 75% of the target population. This report documents the impact of OCV in reducing the number of culture-confirmed cases of cholera admitted to the Groupe Haïtien d’Etude du Sarcome de Kaposi et des Infections Opportunistes (GHESKIO) cholera treatment center from that community in the 37 months postvaccination (April 2012–April 30, 2015). Of 1,788 patients with culture-confirmed cholera, 1,770 (99%) were either from outside the vaccine area (1,400 cases) or from the vaccinated community who had not received OCV (370 cases). Of the 388 people from the catchment area who developed culture-confirmed cholera, 370 occurred among the 17,643 people who had not been vaccinated (2.1%) and the remaining 18 occurred among the 52,357 people (0.034%) who had been vaccinated (P < 0.001), for an efficacy that approximates 97.5%. Despite not being designed as a randomized control trial, the very high efficacy is a strong evidence for the effectiveness of OCV as part of an integrated package for the control of cholera in outbreak settings.

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Use of Balanced Scorecard Methodology for Performance Measurement of the Health Extension Program in Ethiopia
Hailay D. Teklehaimanot, Awash Teklehaimanot, Aregawi A. Tedella, and Mustofa Abdella
Am J Trop Med Hyg 2016 94:1157-1169; Published online February 29, 2016, doi:10.4269/ajtmh.15-0192
Abstract
In 2004, Ethiopia introduced a community-based Health Extension Program to deliver basic and essential health services. We developed a comprehensive performance scoring methodology to assess the performance of the program. A balanced scorecard with six domains and 32 indicators was developed. Data collected from 1,014 service providers, 433 health facilities, and 10,068 community members sampled from 298 villages were used to generate weighted national, regional, and agroecological zone scores for each indicator. The national median indicator scores ranged from 37% to 98% with poor performance in commodity availability, workforce motivation, referral linkage, infection prevention, and quality of care. Indicator scores showed significant difference by region (P < 0.001). Regional performance varied across indicators suggesting that each region had specific areas of strength and deficiency, with Tigray and the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region being the best performers while the mainly pastoral regions of Gambela, Afar, and Benishangul-Gumuz were the worst. The findings of this study suggest the need for strategies aimed at improving specific elements of the program and its performance in specific regions to achieve quality and equitable health services.

Annals of Internal Medicine
3 May 2016, Vol. 164. No. 9
http://annals.org/issue.aspx

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Original Research
Safety of Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in Hospitalized Surgical Patients: A Cohort Study
Sara Y. Tartof, PhD; Lei Qian, PhD; Gunter K. Rieg, MD; Kalvin C. Yu, MD; Lina S. Sy, MPH; Hung Fu Tseng, PhD; Rulin C. Hechter, MD, PhD; and Steven J. Jacobsen, MD, PhD
Abstract
Background: Despite recommendations to vaccinate surgical inpatients against influenza, vaccination rates remain low in this population, due in part to concerns about potential negative effects on postsurgical care.
Objective: To evaluate whether influenza vaccination in the perioperative period increases health care utilization and evaluations for postsurgical infection after discharge.
Design: Retrospective cohort study.
Setting: Members of Kaiser Permanente Southern California.
Participants: Patients aged 6 months or older who had inpatient surgery with admission and discharge between 1 September and 31 March from 2010 to 2013.
Measurements: All influenza vaccinations administered between 1 August and 30 April in the 2010–2011, 2011–2012, and 2012–2013 influenza seasons. Outcomes included rates of outpatient visits, readmission, emergency department (ED) visits, fever (temperature ≥38.0 °C), and clinical laboratory evaluations for infection (urine culture, complete blood count, blood culture, and wound culture) in the 7 days after discharge.
Results: Of the 42 777 surgeries included in adjusted analyses, vaccine was administered during hospitalization in 6420. No differences were detected between the vaccinated and unvaccinated groups in risk for inpatient visits (rate ratio [RR], 1.12 [95% CI, 0.96 to 1.32]), ED visits (RR, 1.07 [CI, 0.96 to 1.20]), postdischarge fever (RR, 1.00 [CI, 0.76 to 1.31]), or clinical evaluations for infection (RR, 1.06 [CI, 0.99 to 1.13]). A marginal increase in risk for outpatient visits (RR, 1.05 [CI, 1.00 to 1.10]; P = 0.032) was found.
Limitation: The study did not distinguish between planned and unplanned readmissions or outpatient visits.
Conclusion: No strong evidence of increased risk for adverse outcomes was found in comparisons of patients who received influenza vaccine during a surgical hospitalization and those who did not. The data support the recommendation to vaccinate surgical inpatients against influenza.

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Ideas and Opinions
Zika Virus: Rapid Spread in the Western Hemisphere FREE
Lin H. Chen, MD; and Davidson H. Hamer, MD

BMC Infectious Diseases
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcinfectdis/content
(Accessed 7 May 2016)

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Research article
The effect of early versus late treatment initiation after diagnosis on the outcomes of patients treated for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: a systematic review
Globally it is estimated that 480 000 people developed multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in 2014 and 190 000 people died from the disease. Successful treatment outcomes are achieved in only 50 % of patients…
Rebecca C. Harris, Louis Grandjean, Laura J. Martin, Alexander J. P. Miller, Joseph-Egre N. Nkang, Victoria Allen, Mishal S. Khan, Katherine Fielding and David A. J. Moore
BMC Infectious Diseases 2016 16:193
Published on: 4 May 2016

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Research article
Factors effecting influenza vaccination uptake among health care workers: a multi-center cross-sectional study
The present study aimed to identify factors affecting vaccination against influenza among health professionals.
Süheyl Asma, Hülya Akan, Yücel Uysal, A. Gürhan Poçan, Mustafa Haki Sucaklı, Erhan Yengil, Çiğdem Gereklioğlu, Aslı Korur, İbrahim Başhan, A. Ferit Erdogan, A. Kürşat Özşahin and Altuğ Kut
BMC Infectious Diseases 2016 16:192
Published on: 4 May 2016

BMJ Open
2016, Volume 6, Issue 5
http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/current

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Evidence based practice
Research
Examining the quality of evidence to support the effectiveness of interventions: an analysis of systematic reviews
Professor Robert L Kane; kanex001@umn.edu, Mary Butler, Weiwen Ng
BMJ Open 2016;6:e011051 doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-011051
Abstract
Objective This analysis examines the quality of evidence (QOE) for 1472 outcomes linked to interventions where the QOE was rated in 42 systematic reviews of randomised clinical trials and/or observational studies across different topics.
Setting Not applicable.
Participants 76 systematic reviews.
Primary and secondary outcome measures Strength of evidence ratings by initial reviewers.
Results Among 76 systematic reviews, QOE ratings were available for only 42, netting 1472 comparisons. Of these, 57% included observational studies; 4% were rated as high and 12% as moderate; the rest were low or insufficient. The ratings varied by topic: 74% of the surgical study pairs were rated as low or insufficient, compared with 82% of pharmaceuticals and 86% of device studies, 88% of organisational, 91% of lifestyle studies, and 94% of psychosocial interventions.
Conclusions We are some distance from being able to claim evidence-based practice. The press for individual-level data will make this challenge even harder.

Bulletin of the World Health Organization
Volume 94, Number 5, May 2016, 309-404
http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/94/5/en/

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Special theme: the Global strategy for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health (2016-2030)
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EDITORIALS
Knowledge for effective action to improve the health of women, children and adolescents in the sustainable development era
Flavia Bustreo, Robin Gorna & David Nabarro
http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.16.174243
…Achieving the global strategy and the SDGs will require the use of the best available knowledge for action, as well as investment in new research and innovation. This month’s Bulletin theme issue seeks to broaden the evidence on effective country implementation and lessons learnt from the MDGs. Kuruvilla et al.3 summarize the current global strategy, show how the objectives of the strategy are aligned with the SDGs and how selected countries are already making progress.

Several papers in this issue deal with progress on the survival objective of the global strategy; Negandhi et al.4 present a surveillance-based maternal and infant death review system in India; Murguía-Peniche et al.5 and McKinnon et al.6 address under-researched topics, such as the factors associated with stillbirths in Mexico and the high prevalence of suicidal behaviours among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries, respectively.

The strategy’s thrive objective addresses the overall health and well-being of mothers, children and adolescents. Chai et al.7 determine how exposure to violence hinders child development and can affect health across the life-course and subsequent generations. Askew et al.8 describe the importance of ensuring sexual and reproductive health and rights in humanitarian settings.

The transform objective of the strategy focuses on expanding enabling environments and aims to transform societies so that women, children and adolescents everywhere can realize their rights to the highest attainable standards of health and well-being. Several papers address the global strategy’s transform objective. Newberry et al.9 present a formal emergency response infrastructure developed in India for gender-based violence.

This special issue also includes papers on approaches that have helped countries achieve improved health outcomes for women, children and adolescents. Marston et al.10 discuss the importance of community engagement in achieving results. Ahmed et al.11 describe policies and programmes that contributed to reductions in child and maternal mortality. Frost et al.12 explain how multistakeholder dialogues are used to clarify what works and does not work in policy-making and implementation…

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EDITORIALS
Sexual and reproductive health and rights in emergencies
Ian Askew, Rajat Khosla, Ugochi Daniels, Sandra Krause, Clare Lofthouse, Lale Say, Kate Gilmore & Sarah Zeid
http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.16.173567

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Research
Association between intimate partner violence and poor child growth: results from 42 demographic and health surveys
Jeanne Chai, Günther Fink, Sylvia Kaaya, Goodarz Danaei, Wafaie Fawzi, Majid Ezzati, Jeffrey Lienert & Mary C Smith Fawzi
http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.15.152462
Abstract
Objective
To determine the impact of intimate partner violence against women on children’s growth and nutritional status in low- and middle-income countries.
Methods
We pooled records from 42 demographic and health surveys in 29 countries. Data on maternal lifetime exposure to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner, socioeconomic and demographic characteristics were collected. We used logistic regression models to determine the association between intimate partner violence and child stunting and wasting.
Findings
Prior exposure to intimate partner violence was reported by 69 652 (34.1%) of the 204 159 ever-married women included in our analysis. After adjusting for a range of characteristics, stunting in children was found to be positively associated with maternal lifetime exposure to only physical (adjusted odds ratio, aOR: 1.11; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.09–1.14) or sexual intimate partner violence (aOR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.05–1.13) and to both forms of such violence (aOR: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.05–1.14). The associations between stunting and intimate partner violence were stronger in urban areas than in rural ones, for mothers who had low levels of education than for women with higher levels of education, and in middle-income countries than in low-income countries. We also found a small negative association between wasting and intimate partner violence (aOR: 0.94; 95%CI: 0.90–0.98).
Conclusion
Intimate partner violence against women remains common in low- and middle-income countries and is highly detrimental to women and to the growth of the affected women’s children. Policy and programme efforts are needed to reduce the prevalence and impact of such violence.

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Perspectives
The sustainable development goals, violence and women’s and children’s health
Claudia García-Moreno & Avni Amin
http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.16.172205

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The Global strategy for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health (2016–2030): a roadmap based on evidence and country experience
Shyama Kuruvilla, Flavia Bustreo, Taona Kuo, CK Mishra, Katie Taylor, Helga Fogstad, Geeta Rao Gupta, Kate Gilmore, Marleen Temmerman, Joe Thomas, Kumanan Rasanathan, Ted Chaiban, Anshu Mohan, Anna Gruending, Julian Schweitzer, Hannah Sarah Dini, John Borrazzo, Hareya Fassil, Lars Gronseth, Rajat Khosla, Richard Cheeseman, Robin Gorna, Lori McDougall, Kadidiatou Toure, Kate Rogers, Kate Dodson, Anita Sharma, Marta Seoane & Anthony Costello
http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.16.170431

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Country perspectives on integrated approaches to maternal and child health: the need for alignment and coordination
Pascal Bijleveld, Blerta Maliqi, Paul Pronyk, Jennifer Franz-Vasdeki, Bennett Nemser, Diana Sera, Renee van de Weerdt & Benedicte Walter
http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.15.168823

Globalization and Health
http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/
[Accessed 7 May 2016]

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Research
Developing a framework for successful research partnerships in global health
Fiona Larkan, Ogenna Uduma, Saheed Akinmayọwa Lawal and Bianca van Bavel
Published on: 6 May 2016
Abstract
Background
The Centre for Global Health, Trinity College Dublin has as one of its goals, strengthening health systems in developing countries. In realising this goal we work across more than 40 countries with third-level, civil society, government, private sector and UN partners. Each of these requires that different relationships be established. Good principles must guide all global health research partnerships.
An exploratory research project was undertaken with research partners of, and staff within, the Centre for Global Health. The aim was to build an evidence-based framework.
Methods
An inductive exploratory research process was undertaken using a grounded theory approach in three consecutive phases: Phase I: An open-ended questionnaire was sent via email to all identified partners. Phase II: A series of consultative meetings were held with the staff of the Centre for Global Health. Phase III: Data sets from Phases I and II were applied to the development of a unifying framework. Data was analysed using grounded theory three stage thematic analysis – open, axial and selective coding.
Results
Relational and operational aspects of partnership were highlighted as being relevant across every partnership. Seven equally important core concepts emerged (focus, values, equity, benefit, leadership, communication and resolution), and are described and discussed here. Of these, two (leadership and resolution) are less often considered in existing literature on partnerships.
Conclusions
Large complex partnerships can work well if all parties are agreed in advance to a common minimum programme, have been involved from the design stage, and have adequate resources specifically allocated. Based on this research, a framework for partnerships has been developed and is shared.

The Lancet
May 07, 2016 Volume 387 Number 10031 p1879-1968
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

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Editorial
Australia’s offshore refugee policy in disarray
The Lancet
Summary
Australia’s contentious way of dealing with refugees and asylum seekers arriving by boat, long condemned by human rights organisations, has come under renewed attack and public scrutiny. On April 26, the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea (PNG) ruled that the offshore detention centre on Manus Island, PNG, which had been used by Australia under the so-called Pacific Solution, was unconstitutional and ordered its closure. In its ruling, the court said that the centre violated the detainees’ rights to personal liberty under the PNG constitution.

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Comment
Mind the gap: jumping from vaccine licensure to routine use
Katherine L O’Brien, Fred Binka, Kevin Marsh, Jon S Abramson
Summary
The contribution of immunisation to improving childhood survival is one of the great achievements of global health. Driving down further infectious disease burden will require new vaccines, many of which have taken decades to develop. We are entering an era where the path from licensure to widespread routine vaccine implementation requires more than efficacy and safety data; policy recommendations for new vaccines may only be realised through implementation research to determine how to most effectively ensure widespread use.

Nature
Volume 533 Number 7601 pp7-138 5 May 2016
http://www.nature.com/nature/current_issue.html

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Comment
Policy: Security spending must cover disease outbreaks
Tadataka Yamada, V. Ayano Ogawa and Maria Freire call for research and development funding and coordination to counter global infectious-disease threats.

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Letters
Unique human immune signature of Ebola virus disease in Guinea
Paula Ruibal, Lisa Oestereich, Anja Lüdtke, Beate Becker-Ziaja, David M. Wozniak+ et al.
Fatal Ebola virus disease is characterized by a high proportion of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing the inhibitory molecules CTLA-4 and PD-1, correlating with high virus load; individuals who survive the infection exhibit lower expression of these inhibitory molecules and generate Ebola-specific CD8+ T cells, suggesting that dysregulation of the T cell response is a key component of Ebola virus disease pathophysiology.

New England Journal of Medicine
May 5, 2016 Vol. 374 No. 18
http://www.nejm.org/toc/nejm/medical-journal

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Original Article
Efficacy of a Single-Dose, Inactivated Oral Cholera Vaccine in Bangladesh
Firdausi Qadri, Ph.D., Thomas F. Wierzba, Ph.D., Mohammad Ali, Ph.D., Fahima Chowdhury, M.P.H., Ashraful I. Khan, Ph.D., Amit Saha, M.Med., Iqbal A. Khan, M.Sc., Muhammad Asaduzzaman, M.Phil., Afroza Akter, M.B., B.S., Arifuzzaman Khan, M.B., B.S., Yasmin A. Begum, Ph.D., Taufiqur R. Bhuiyan, Ph.D., Farhana Khanam, M.Sc., Mohiul I. Chowdhury, M.P.H., Taufiqul Islam, M.B., B.S., Atique I. Chowdhury, M.Sc., Anisur Rahman, M.Sc., Shah A. Siddique, M.P.H., Young A. You, M.Sc., Deok R. Kim, M.Sc., Ashraf U. Siddik, M.S.S., Nirod C. Saha, M.Sc., Alamgir Kabir, M.Sc., Alejandro Cravioto, Ph.D., Sachin N. Desai, M.D., Ajit P. Singh, M.D., and John D. Clemens, M.D.
N Engl J Med 2016; 374:1723-1732 May 5, 2016 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1510330
Abstract
Background
A single-dose regimen of the current killed oral cholera vaccines that have been prequalified by the World Health Organization would make them more attractive for use against endemic and epidemic cholera. We conducted an efficacy trial of a single dose of the killed oral cholera vaccine Shanchol, which is currently given in a two-dose schedule, in an urban area in which cholera is highly endemic.
Methods
Nonpregnant residents of Dhaka, Bangladesh, who were 1 year of age or older were randomly assigned to receive a single dose of oral cholera vaccine or oral placebo. The primary outcome was vaccine protective efficacy against culture-confirmed cholera occurring 7 to 180 days after dosing. Prespecified secondary outcomes included protective efficacy against severely dehydrating culture-confirmed cholera during the same interval, against cholera and severe cholera occurring 7 to 90 versus 91 to 180 days after dosing, and against cholera and severe cholera according to age at baseline.
Results
A total of 101 episodes of cholera, 37 associated with severe dehydration, were detected among the 204,700 persons who received one dose of vaccine or placebo. The vaccine protective efficacy was 40% (95% confidence interval [CI], 11 to 60%; 0.37 cases per 1000 vaccine recipients vs. 0.62 cases per 1000 placebo recipients) against all cholera episodes, 63% (95% CI, 24 to 82%; 0.10 vs. 0.26 cases per 1000 recipients) against severely dehydrating cholera episodes, and 63% (95% CI, −39 to 90%), 56% (95% CI, 16 to 77%), and 16% (95% CI, −49% to 53%) against all cholera episodes among persons vaccinated at the age of 5 to 14 years, 15 or more years, and 1 to 4 years, respectively, although the differences according to age were not significant (P=0.25). Adverse events occurred at similar frequencies in the two groups.
Conclusions
A single dose of the oral cholera vaccine was efficacious in older children (≥5 years of age) and in adults in a setting with a high level of cholera endemicity. (Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02027207.)

Pediatrics
May 2016, VOLUME 137 / ISSUE 5
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/137/5?current-issue=y

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Special Articles
Zika Virus Disease: A CDC Update for Pediatric Health Care Providers
Mateusz P. Karwowski, Jennifer M. Nelson, J. Erin Staples, Marc Fischer, Katherine E. Fleming-Dutra, Julie Villanueva, Ann M. Powers, Paul Mead, Margaret A. Honein, Cynthia A. Moore, Sonja A. Rasmussen
Pediatrics May 2016, 137 (5) e20160621; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2016-0621

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Special Articles
The Challenges in Measuring Local Immunization Coverage: A Statewide Case Study
Elizabeth Wolf, Ali Rowhani-Rahbar, Jeffrey Duchin, M. Patricia DeHart, Douglas Opel
Pediatrics May 2016, 137 (5) e20153755; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2015-3755
Abstract
There are many forms of existing immunization surveillance in the United States and Washington state, but all are limited in their ability to provide timely identification of clusters of unimmunized individuals and assess the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases. This article aims to: (1) describe challenges to measuring immunization coverage at a local level in the United States using Washington State as a case study; and (2) propose improvements to existing surveillance systems that address the challenges identified.

PLoS Medicine
http://www.plosmedicine.org/
(Accessed 7 May 2016)

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Essay
A Public Health Paradox: The Women Most Vulnerable to Malaria Are the Least Protected
Raquel González, Esperança Sevene, George Jagoe, Laurence Slutsker, Clara Menéndez
| published 03 May 2016 | PLOS Medicine
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002014

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Effectiveness of and Financial Returns to Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision for HIV Prevention in South Africa: An Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
Markus Haacker, Nicole Fraser-Hurt, Marelize Gorgens
Research Article | published 03 May 2016 | PLOS Medicine
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002012

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Interpreting the Global Enteric Multicenter Study (GEMS) Findings on Sanitation, Hygiene, and Diarrhea
Jonny Crocker, Jamie Bartram
Perspective | published 03 May 2016 | PLOS Medicine
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002011

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Sanitation and Hygiene-Specific Risk Factors for Moderate-to-Severe Diarrhea in Young Children in the Global Enteric Multicenter Study, 2007–2011: Case-Control Study
Kelly K. Baker, Ciara E. O’Reilly, Myron M. Levine, Karen L. Kotloff, James P. Nataro, Tracy L. Ayers, Tamer H. Farag, Dilruba Nasrin, William C. Blackwelder, Yukun Wu, Pedro L. Alonso, Robert F. Breiman, Richard Omore, Abu S. G. Faruque, Sumon Kumar Das, Shahnawaz Ahmed, Debasish Saha, Samba O. Sow, Dipika Sur, Anita K. M. Zaidi, Fahreen Quadri, Eric D. Mintz
Research Article | published 03 May 2016 | PLOS Medicine
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002010

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
http://www.plosntds.org/
(Accessed 7 May 2016)

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Research Article
Potential Impact of Sexual Transmission on Ebola Virus Epidemiology: Sierra Leone as a Case Study
Jessica L. Abbate, Carmen Lia Murall, Heinz Richner, Christian L. Althaus
| published 02 May 2016 | PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0004676

PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 7 May 2016]

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Predictors of Uptake and Timeliness of Newly Introduced Pneumococcal and Rotavirus Vaccines, and of Measles Vaccine in Rural Malawi: A Population Cohort Study
Hazzie Mvula, Ellen Heinsbroek, Menard Chihana, Amelia C. Crampin, Storn Kabuluzi, Geoffrey Chirwa, Charles Mwansambo, Anthony Costello, Nigel A. Cunliffe, Robert S. Heyderman, Neil French, Naor Bar-Zeev, VacSurv Consortium
Research Article | published 06 May 2016 | PLOS ONE
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0154997
Abstract
Background
Malawi introduced pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and monovalent rotavirus vaccine (RV1) in 2011 and 2012 respectively, and is planning the introduction of a second-dose measles vaccine (MV). We assessed predictors of availability, uptake and timeliness of these vaccines in a rural Malawian setting.
Methods
Commencing on the first date of PCV13 eligibility we conducted a prospective population-based birth cohort study of 2,616 children under demographic surveillance in Karonga District, northern Malawi who were eligible for PCV13, or from the date of RV1 introduction both PCV13 and RV1. Potential predictors of vaccine uptake and timeliness for PCV13, RV1 and MV were analysed respectively using robust Poisson and Cox regression.
Results
Vaccine coverage was high for all vaccines, ranging from 86.9% for RV1 dose 2 to 95.4% for PCV13 dose 1. Median time delay for PCV13 dose 1 was 17 days (IQR 7–36), 19 days (IQR 8–36) for RV1 dose 1 and 20 days (IQR 3–46) for MV. Infants born to lower educated or farming mothers and those living further away from the road or clinic were at greater risk of being not fully vaccinated and being vaccinated late. Delays in vaccination were also associated with non-facility birth. Vaccine stock-outs resulted in both a delay in vaccine timeliness and in a decrease in completion of schedule.
Conclusion
Despite high vaccination coverage in this setting, delays in vaccination were common. We identified programmatic and socio-demographic risk factors for uptake and timeliness of vaccination. Understanding who remains most vulnerable to be unvaccinated allows for focussed delivery thereby increasing population coverage and maximising the equitable benefits of universal vaccination programmes.

Vaccine
Volume 34, Issue 23, Pages 2527-2634 (17 May 2016)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0264410X/34/23

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A systematic review of human-to-human transmission of measles vaccine virus
Review Article
Pages 2531-2536
Kathryn P. Greenwood, Radwan Hafiz, Robert S. Ware, Stephen B. Lambert
Abstract
Measles is one of the most contagious human diseases. Administration of the live attenuated measles vaccine has substantially reduced childhood mortality and morbidity since its licensure in 1963. The live but attenuated form of the vaccine describes a virus poorly adapted to replicating in human tissue, but with a replication yield sufficient to elicit an immune response for long-term protection. Given the high transmissibility of the wild-type virus and that transmission of other live vaccine viruses has been documented, we conducted a systematic review to establish if there is any evidence of human-to-human transmission of the live attenuated measles vaccine virus. We reviewed 773 articles for genotypic confirmation of a vaccine virus transmitted from a recently vaccinated individual to a susceptible close contact. No evidence of human-to-human transmission of the measles vaccine virus has been reported amongst the thousands of clinical samples genotyped during outbreaks or endemic transmission and individual case studies worldwide.

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South Asia symposium on pneumococcal disease and the promise of vaccines – Meeting report
Original Research Article
Pages 2622-2626
Rakesh Kumar, Narendra Arora, Mathuram Santosham
Abstract
Despite the licensure of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in the US and other Western countries for over 14 years, as of September 2014 only 4 South Asian countries were using PCV in their universal immunization program. To generate momentum toward addressing this issue a “South Asia symposium on pneumococcal disease and the promise of vaccines” was organized just prior to the 9th international symposium on pneumococci and pneumococcal diseases held in India recently. Leading scientists, program managers, and decision makers including ministry officials from the region participated in the meeting. The participants discussed available data on pneumococcal disease burden in South Asia, surveillance methods, efficacy and safety of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV), the status of PCV introduction, programmatic challenges in introducing PCV and available data on the impact of PCV in South Asia and globally. There was a strong consensus that available data on disease burden and the global experience with PCV justified the introduction PCV in all Asian countries in order to accelerate the gains in child survival in the region.

Vaccine: Development and Therapy
https://www.dovepress.com/vaccine-development-and-therapy-archive111
(Accessed 7 May 2016)

Review
Tularemia vaccine development: paralysis or progress?
Sunagar R, Kumar S, Franz BJ, Gosselin EJ
Vaccine: Development and Therapy 2016, 6:9-23
Published Date: 4 May 2016
Abstract:
Francisella tularensis (Ft) is a gram-negative intercellular pathogen and category A biothreat agent. However, despite 15 years of strong government investment and intense research focused on the development of a US Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccine against Ft, the primary goal remains elusive. This article reviews research efforts focused on developing an Ft vaccine, as well as a number of important factors, some only recently recognized as such, which can significantly impact the development and evaluation of Ft vaccine efficacy. Finally, an assessment is provided as to whether a US Food and Drug Administration-approved Ft vaccine is likely to be forthcoming and the potential means by which this might be achieved.

American Journal of Epidemiology
(2016) doi: 10.1093/aje/kwv273
First published online: April 28, 2016

Bayesian Correction of Misclassification of Pertussis in Vaccine Effectiveness Studies: How Much Does Underreporting Matter?
ND Goldstein, I Burstyn, EC Newbern, LP Tabb…
Abstract
Diagnosis of pertussis remains a challenge, and consequently research on the risk of disease might be biased because of misclassification. We quantified this misclassification and corrected for it in a case-control study of children in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who were 3 months to 6 years of age and diagnosed with pertussis between 2011 and 2013. Vaccine effectiveness (VE; calculated as (1 – odds ratio) × 100) was used to describe the average reduction in reported pertussis incidence resulting from persons being up to date on pertussis-antigen containing vaccines. Bayesian techniques were used to correct for purported nondifferential misclassification by reclassifying the cases per the 2014 Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists pertussis case definition. Naïve VE was 50% (95% confidence interval: 16%, 69%). After correcting for misclassification, VE ranged from 57% (95% credible interval: 30, 73) to 82% (95% credible interval: 43, 95), depending on the amount of underreporting of pertussis that was assumed to have occurred in the study period. Meaningful misclassification was observed in terms of false negatives detected after the incorporation of infant apnea to the 2014 case definition. Although specificity was nearly perfect, sensitivity of the case definition varied from 90% to 20%, depending on the assumption about missed cases. Knowing the degree of the underreporting is essential to the accurate evaluation of VE.

Media/Policy Watch
This section is intended to alert readers to substantive news, analysis and opinion from the general media on vaccines, immunization, global; public health and related themes. Media Watch is not intended to be exhaustive, but indicative of themes and issues CVEP is actively tracking. This section will grow from an initial base of newspapers, magazines and blog sources, and is segregated from Journal Watch above which scans the peer-reviewed journal ecology.

We acknowledge the Western/Northern bias in this initial selection of titles and invite suggestions for expanded coverage. We are conservative in our outlook in adding news sources which largely report on primary content we are already covering above. Many electronic media sources have tiered, fee-based subscription models for access. We will provide full-text where content is published without restriction, but most publications require registration and some subscription level.

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Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/
Accessed 7 May 2016
How Dangerous Are College Outbreaks Of Mumps To You?
The mumps vaccine is our best protection against outbreaks of disease, like those occurring on colleges across the country.
Judy Stone, Contributor May 02, 2016

A Flu Shot During Pregnancy Protects Babies From Flu Up To 6 Months Later
Babies were far less likely to get the flu if their mothers were vaccinated against it.
Tara Haelle, Contributor May 03, 2016

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Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/impact/
Accessed 7 May 2016
THE BLOG
When It Was Even Scarier
29 April 2016
…I came to the CDC in 1988. That year, the World Health Assembly announced a commitment to eradicate polio—which every day paralyzed 1,000 children. Today polio is on the brink of extinction, clinging to existence in only two nations.

The year I came to CDC, the Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib) conjugate vaccine was just beginning to be used to prevent life-threatening meningitis and sepsis. Now Hib disease is nearly eliminated in the U.S., and the Vaccines for Children program makes sure vaccines are available to every child in America, and the GAVI Alliance has helped Hib vaccine be introduced in the poorest countries of the world.

Other things have changed since I came to CDC. Soon after I arrived, the U.S. experienced a major measles outbreak—55,000 cases and 123 deaths—and 1.9 million children worldwide were estimated to die from measles each year. By the year 2000, measles was eliminated from the U.S. And by 2014, worldwide measles deaths had declined to 115,000, with efforts in Africa and Asia accounting for most of the progress.

Twenty-five years ago, I made my first trip to West Africa to look for places to test a meningococcal A conjugate vaccine. In the past five years, 235 million people in the African meningitis belt have lined up to get the low-cost MenAfriVac developed by the Meningitis Vaccine Project. Today, epidemic group A meningococcal meningitis is gone.

Of course it’s not all smooth sailing now. We can’t take lifesaving vaccines for granted. In parts of Europe, we’ve seen many people forgo having their children immunized. The result: large outbreaks of measles that have been very difficult to control, including cases imported to the U.S. The progress in Africa is fragile — there’ve been very large measles outbreaks in the same countries that experienced Ebola, a result of interrupted health services and a tragic consequence of the Ebola epidemic.

Working with global partners and national governments, it is crucial we prevent, detect and respond to outbreaks before they spread; finish the job of polio eradication and secure its legacy through resilient immunization systems and sustained high coverage of measles vaccine.
Now I’ve reached the “mature” stage of my CDC career, and we are fighting a new threat called Zika. Our Ebola response showed we could move candidate vaccines from pre-clinical testing into large-scale field trials faster than ever. Zika, with its link to birth defects and miscarriage, provides an echo of the terrible rubella outbreak of the ‘60s. Improvements in science and global collaboration can help vaccine development against Zika advance even more rapidly…

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Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/home-page?_wsjregion=na,us&_homepage=/home/us
Accessed 7 May 2016
World
Study Sees Way to Limit Mosquitoes’ Ability to Spread Zika
By Betsy McKay, Reed Johnson, Rogerio Jelmayer
May 4, 2016
Introducing a common bacterium into a species of mosquitoes drastically limits the insects’ ability to transmit the dangerous Zika virus that has been spreading rapidly, according to researchers at Brazil’s leading medical-research institute…

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Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Accessed 7 May 2016
All those questions about Zika’s threat even touch baseball
Scientists know the Zika virus causes devastating birth defects but they can’t yet tell how big a threat it is or what to do about it. It’s not just pregnant women who are worried — now it’s touched baseball.
Lauran Neergaard | AP | Sports | May 6, 2016

Global Fund: $3.8 million fraud, stops aid to Nigeria agency
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has suspended payments to Nigeria’s AIDS agency over evidence that $3.8 million was stolen by its workers and consultants, the Geneva-based agency said Friday.
Michelle Faul | AP | Foreign | May 6, 2016

Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review is a weekly digest  summarizing news, events, announcements, peer-reviewed articles and research in the global vaccine ethics and policy space. Content is aggregated from key governmental, NGO, international organization and industry sources, key peer-reviewed journals, and other media channels. This summary proceeds from the broad base of themes and issues monitored by the Center for Vaccine Ethics & Policy in its work: it is not intended to be exhaustive in its coverage. You are viewing the blog version of our weekly digest, typically comprised of between 30 and 40 posts below all dated with the current issue date

.– Request an Email Summary: Vaccines and Global Health : The Week in Review is published as a single email summary, scheduled for release each Saturday evening before midnight (EDT in the U.S.). If you would like to receive the email version, please send your request to david.r.curry@centerforvaccineethicsandpolicy.org.

– pdf version:  A pdf of the current issue is available here:  Vaccines and Global Health_The Week in Review_30 April 2016

– blog edition: comprised of the approx. 35+ entries posted below on 1 May 2016.

– Twitter:  Readers can also follow developments on twitter: @vaxethicspolicy.
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– Links:  We endeavor to test each link as we incorporate it into any post, but recognize that some links may become “stale” as publications and websites reorganize content over time. We apologize in advance for any links that may not be operative. We believe the contextual information in a given post should allow retrieval, but please contact us as above for assistance if necessary.

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David R. Curry, MS
Executive Director
Center for Vaccine Ethics and Policy
a program of the
– Division of Medical Ethics, NYU Medical School
– Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education Center
Associate Faculty, Division of Medical Ethics, NYU Medical School

Editor’s Note:
Without any specific advisory or context information, WHO posted a report on a new ‘Yellow Fever” page titled: “Situation Report – Zika Virus Disease, Yellow Fever, Ebola Virus Disease.” The report appears to revive the previously discontinued Ebola Situation Report, partially duplicate the Zika Situation Report (which still appears as a free-standing report as below), and includes a “Risk Assessment” statement for each disease area:

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Situation Report – Zika Virus Disease, Yellow Fever, Ebola Virus Disease –
28 April 2016
[Excerpts]
Zika Virus Disease
Risk assessment
Overall, the global risk assessment has not changed since April 21. Zika virus continues to spread geographically to areas where competent vectors are present. Although a decline in cases of Zika infection has been reported in some countries, or in some parts of countries, vigilance needs to remain high. At this stage, based on the evidence available, WHO does not see an overall decline in the outbreak.

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Yellow Fever
Risk assessment
:: The outbreak in Angola remains of high concern due to:
:: Persistent local transmission in Luanda despite that fact that almost six million people have been vaccinated.
:: High risk of spread to neighbouring countries. Confirmed cases have already travelled from Angola to China, DRC and Kenya.
:: A field investigation concluded there is a high risk of local transmission of Yellow Fever in DRC.

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Ebola Virus Disease
Risk assessment:
Although all of the previous outbreaks have been stopped, the performance indicators suggest that the three countries still have variable capacity to prevent (care for survivors), detect (epidemiological and laboratory surveillance) and respond to new outbreaks (Table 7). The risk of additional outbreaks remains.

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Yellow fever vaccination essential for Angola, WHO reminds travellers
WHO News release
26 APRIL 2016 | GENEVA – As efforts to bring an outbreak of yellow fever in Angola under control continue, WHO is reminding all travellers to the country that they are required to receive the yellow fever vaccination and to have a valid certificate of vaccination to prove that they are protected from the disease and to prevent its further spread.

Since the outbreak in Angola began in December 2015, 1 975 suspected cases of yellow fever (618 laboratory confirmed) and 258 deaths have been reported, the majority of them in the capital, Luanda, and in 2 other provinces. Amid concerns that the virus will spread to other urban areas and to neighbouring countries, a large-scale vaccination campaign was launched in February 2016 and has so far reached almost 7 million people.

“Cases of yellow fever linked to this outbreak have been detected in other countries of Africa and Asia. We are particularly concerned that large urban areas are at risk and we strongly urge all travellers to Angola to ensure they are vaccinated against yellow fever and carry a valid certificate,” said Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General…

Zika virus [to 30 April 2016]
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)
http://www.who.int/emergencies/zika-virus/en/

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Zika situation report – 28 April 2016
Zika virus, Microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome
Read the full situation report
Summary
As of 27 April, 55 countries and territories report continuing mosquito-borne transmission; for 42 countries this is their first documented Zika virus outbreak (Fig. 1).

:: Mosquito-borne transmission:
…42 countries are experiencing a first outbreak of Zika virus since 2015, with no previous evidence of circulation, and with ongoing transmission by mosquitos.
…13 countries reported evidence of Zika virus transmission between 2007 and 2014, with ongoing transmission.
…Four countries or territories have reported an outbreak since 2015 that is now over: Cook Islands, French Polynesia, ISLA DE PASCUA – Chile and YAP (Federated States of Micronesia.

:: Person-to-person transmission:
…Nine countries have reported evidence of person-to-person transmission of Zika virus, probably via a sexual route.
…In the week to 27 April, no additional countries reported mosquito-borne Zika virus transmission. Canada is the latest country to report person-to-person transmission.
…Microcephaly and other fetal malformations potentially associated with Zika virus infection or suggestive of congenital infection have been reported in six countries or territories (Table 3). Two cases, each linked to a stay in Brazil, were detected in Slovenia and the United States of America. One additional case, linked to a brief stay in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize, was detected in a pregnant woman in the United States of America.
…In the context of Zika virus circulation, 13 countries and territories worldwide have reported an increased incidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and/or laboratory confirmation of a Zika virus infection among GBS cases.
…Based on research to date, there is scientific consensus that Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and GBS.
…The global prevention and control strategy launched by the World Health Organization as a Strategic Response Framework encompasses surveillance, response activities and research. Key interventions are being undertaken jointly by WHO and international, regional and national partners in response to this public health emergency.
…WHO has developed new advice and information on diverse topics in the context of Zika virus. WHO’s latest information materials, news and resources to support risk communication, and community engagement are available online.

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Latest updates
Dispelling rumours around Zika and complications
29 April 2016

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Zika Open [to 30 April 2016]
[Bulletin of the World Health Organization]
:: All papers available here
New papers below:
Spatial distribution of Zika virus infection in northeastern Colombia
Alfonso J Rodriguez-Morales, Ubydul Haque, Jacob D Ball, Carlos Julian García-Loaiza, Maria Leonor Galindo-Marquez, Juan Alejandro Sabogal-Roman, Santiago Marin-Loaiza, Andrés Felipe Ayala, Carlos O. Lozada-Riascos, Fredi A. Diaz-Quijano & Jorge L Alvarado-Socarras
Posted: 29 April 2016
http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.16.176529

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CDC/ACIP [to 30 April 2016]
http://www.cdc.gov/media/index.html
FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016
CDC adds Papua New Guinea to interim travel guidance related to Zika virus
CDC is working with other public health officials to monitor for ongoing Zika virus? transmission. Today, CDC posted a Zika virus travel notice for Papua New Guinea.

EBOLA/EVD [to 30 April 2016]
“Threat to international peace and security” (UN Security Council)

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Situation Report – Zika Virus Disease, Yellow Fever, Ebola Virus Disease – 28 April 2016
[Excerpt]
Ebola Virus Disease
Risk assessment:
Although all of the previous outbreaks have been stopped, the performance indicators suggest that the three countries still have variable capacity to prevent (care for survivors), detect (epidemiological and laboratory surveillance) and respond to new outbreaks (Table 7). The risk of additional outbreaks remains.

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African Union [to 30 April 2016]
http://www.au.int/en/
Terms of Reference for Multi-Disciplinary Clinical Teams (MDCT) – Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Ministry of Health and Sanitation
Following the end of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Outbreak in Sierra Leone, the country is desirous of re-building its health system. To achieve this objective the country with support from Development Partners (DPs) developed a District Capacity Strengthening Project (DCSP). One of the components of the Projects is the Multi-Disciplinary Clinical Team (MDCT) Component. This component of the project aims to utilize the services of expatriate nationals as a short term measure to fill critical gaps in the health care delivery system as part of post-Ebola recovery activities, while the country works on a more sustainable human resource for health development program.

In support of the Government of Sierra Leone’s (GoSL) rebuilding efforts, the World Bank has made available funds to the GoSL under the Emergency Ebola Response Project (EERP). The GoSL wishes to apply part of these funds to secure the services of medical professionals to work in various district hospitals around the country.

File:
4 Medical Laboratory Technologists/Scientists
25 Medical Officers (with good General Medicine & Paediatrics skills)
18 Medical Officers (with good Surgical/Obstetrics & Gynaecology skills)
4 Radiographers /Imaging Technicians

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IPU Inter-Parliamentary Union [to 30 April 2016]
http://www.ipu.org/english/news.htm
27 APRIL 2016
Sierra Leone tackles Ebola prejudice and violence
MPs in Sierra Leone have received in-depth training at a workshop on ending the stigmatization of survivors of the deadly Ebola outbreak. A survey has found that 96 per cent of survivors had experienced some form of discrimination. The workshop, held in the capital, Freetown, also provided key information on tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) and improving their health.
Forty MPs took part in the workshop, before taking the messages on Ebola and violence out into the community at two-day events in Freetown and the eastern town of Kenema. More than 80 people took part in each event, including local leaders, police and legal officials, health, education and social workers, civil society organizations, groups representing women and youth, and constituents. The events were organized by the Parliament of Sierra Leone with IPU assistance.

Community engagement is at the core of the new Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health 2016-2030, which aims to end preventable deaths and enable people to thrive. IPU – in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health – is at the forefront of work to ensure that national parliaments continue to play a critical role in improving women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health at the national, regional and global levels.

POLIO [to 30 April 2016]
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)

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Polio this week as of 27 April 2016
:: This World Immunization Week, we are closer than ever to the target of a world free of polio, with just two remaining polio endemic countries- Afghanistan and Pakistan. Read more about what remains to be done to carry the world across the threshold here.

:: Around the world, countries that remain vulnerable to polio are continuing to vaccinate children and build immunity, as shown in Jordan through this series of photographs.

The Trivalent to Bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine Switch
:: Between 17 April and 1 May, the type 2 component of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) is being removed from use through a globally synchronized switch from the trivalent to bivalent oral polio vaccine. This is the first stage of objective 2 of the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018 to withdraw OPV in a phased manner starting with the type 2 component following the eradication of wild poliovirus type 2 in September 2015.

:: Follow a live update of which countries have undergone the switch here. Learn more about why the switch is such an important part of ensuring a polio-free world through this series of videos.

:: The following indicators are being carefully tracked to ensure the switch goes smoothly. As of 25 April:
…75 of 155 (48%) countries and territories have stopped using the trivalent oral polio vaccine.
…Independent monitoring to ensure the switch goes smoothly has begun in 63 countries.
…The National Validation Committee has received switch monitoring data from four countries: Tuvalu, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Burundi.
…The WHO Regional Office has received the National Validation Report from one country: Tuvalu.
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Selected Country Levels Updates [excerpted]
Afghanistan
:: One new case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) was reported in the past week in Shigal Wa Sheltan district of Kunar province with onset of paralysis on 26 February. The most recent case had onset of paralysis on 27 March in Shigal Wa Sheltan district of Kunar. The total number of WPV1 cases for 2016 is now four, compared to one reported by this date in 2015.
:: National Immunization Days will be held on 17 to 20 May.
Madagascar
:: The third Outbreak Response Assessment in Madagascar found that the surveillance system is not yet strong enough to conclude that polio transmission has been interrupted. Thirty-nine high-risk districts have been identified to receive focused attention.

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World Bank [to 30 April 2016]
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/all
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Kandahar Province on the Verge of Eradicating Polio
Date: April 26, 2016
Highlights
:: Kandahar Province is on the verge of eradicating polio as a result of improved access to health services and extensive health awareness programs.
:: It is one of many significant outcomes of the System Enhancement for Health Action in Transition project, implemented by the Ministry of Public Health.
:: The project aims to expand the scope, quality, and coverage of health services provided to the population. It is supported by the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank Group’s fund for the poorest countries, and the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF), in partnership with multiple donors.

MERS-CoV [to 30 April 2016]

Disease Outbreak News (DONs)
:: 26 April 2016 Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Saudi Arabia
:: 25 April 2016 Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Bahrain

WHO & Regional Offices [to 30 April 2016]

World Immunization Week 2016: Close the immunization gap
:: Campaign toolkit
:: Poster, visual materials
:: Fact sheet on immunization coverage
:: Quiz: How much do you know about immunization?
Get Vaccinated: Go for the gold!
29 April 2016 – Immunization stops 2 to 3 million deaths each year, however an additional 1.5 million deaths could be avoided with better vaccination coverage. During World Immunization Week 2016, WHO offices around the world have highlighted recent gains in immunization coverage and emphasized the work still needed to meet vaccination targets. In the Americas, the week has been supported by the 6 time Olympic Games Gold Medallist, Usain Bolt, with the theme “Go for the gold! Get vaccinated!”
:: More about World Immunization Week

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Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER) 29 April 2016, vol. 91, 17 (pp. 217–236)
Contents:
217 Epidemic focus [yellow fever]
219 Dracunculiasis eradication: global surveillance summary, 2015

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IPAC – Call for nominations pdf, 126kb 25 April 2016
[Immunization Practices Advisory Committee]
Deadline for application: 31 May 2016

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Disease Outbreak News (DONs)
:: 28 April 2016 Salmonellosis – United States of America
:: 27 April 2016 Lassa Fever – Germany
:: 26 April 2016 Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus – China
:: 26 April 2016 Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Saudi Arabia
:: 25 April 2016 Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Bahrain

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:: WHO Regional Offices
WHO African Region AFRO
:: New WHO Guidelines Make All Persons Living with HIV Eligible for Antiretroviral Treatment
Johannesburg, 29 April 2016 – According to the new World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for the prevention, treatment and care of HIV and Hepatitis, all 26 million people currently living with HIV in the African Region are now eligible for antiretroviral treatment (ART). This is more than double the number of the current 11 million on treatment. “The recommendation that anyone infected with HIV should begin antiretroviral treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis will revolutionize treatment outcomes, where people living with HIV will be able to live long and healthy lives,” says Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director …
:: A Call to Close the Immunization Gap – 26 April 2016
:: Yellow fever vaccination essential for Angola, WHO reminds travellers – 26 April 2016

WHO Region of the Americas PAHO
:: Communities urged to clean up mosquito breeding sites to prevent Zika, during Vaccination Week in the Americas (04/29/2016)
:: PAHO urges “Go for the gold! Get vaccinated!” during Vaccination Week in the Americas (04/25/2016)
:: “Malaria Champions of the Americas” seeks successful initiatives to eliminate malaria and prevent its reintroduction (04/25/2016)

WHO South-East Asia Region SEARO
:: WHO: One year on, health partners review Nepal quake response, call for scaling up emergency preparedness SEAR/PR/1624 Kathmandu, 21 April 2016
:: End malaria for good, scale-up and sustain Region-wide anti-malaria efforts 25 April 2016

WHO European Region EURO
:: Crown Princess of Denmark advocates immunization and addressing antimicrobial resistance 28-04-2016
:: Joint statement by Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe 27-04-2016
:: Governments call on WHO and partners to support achievement of global road safety targets 26-04-2016
:: European Immunization Week in the classroom 25-04-2016

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO
:: The final frontier in polio eradication 28 April 2016
:: Chernobyl: 30 Years On 26 April 2016

WHO Western Pacific Region
:: WHO calls for action to protect young people from alcohol-related harm
HONG KONG SAR (CHINA), 30 APRIL 2016 – Every minute one person dies from alcohol-related harm in the Western Pacific Region. Alcohol is one of the biggest risk factors for deaths among young people in the Region. “One in three current drinkers in the Western Pacific aged 15 to 19 has engaged in excessive drinking,” notes Dr Shin Young-soo, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. “Alcohol abuse is associated with depression and anxiety. Excessive drinking is closely linked to self-harm and suicide.”

CDC/ACIP [to 30 April 2016]
http://www.cdc.gov/media/index.html
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FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016
CDC adds Papua New Guinea to interim travel guidance related to Zika virus
CDC is working with other public health officials to monitor for ongoing Zika virus? transmission. Today, CDC posted a Zika virus travel notice for Papua New Guinea.

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016
World Immunization Week
CDC plays a critical role in promoting global immunization by providing scientific leadership and guidance to implement evidence-based vaccination strategies against disease. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the…

MMWR April 29, 2016 / Vol. 65 / No. 16
:: Food and Drug Administration Approval for Use of Hiberix as a 3-Dose Primary Haemophilus influenzae Type b (Hib) Vaccination Series

Sabin Vaccine Institute [to 30 April 2016]
http://www.sabin.org/updates/ressreleases

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April 28, 2016
Sabin PDP Begins Phase 1 Clinical Trial to Co-Administer Two Novel Hookworm Vaccine Candidates in Brazil
WASHINGTON, D.C. — April 29, 2016 — The Sabin Vaccine Institute (Sabin) today announced that its Product Development Partnership (Sabin PDP) began a Phase 1 clinical trial of Na-APR-1 (M74)/Alhydrogel® co-administered with Na-GST-1/Alhydrogel in Brazilian adults. The trial will evaluate the safety and immune response of co-administering these novel vaccine candidates in 60 healthy adults living in a hookworm-endemic area.

The George Washington University (GWU) in partnership with the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) of the Brazilian Ministry of Health is conducting the study in Americaninhas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study began in January and is expected to run through March 2017. Volunteers will be injected with one or both vaccine products, to determine if administering both at the same time produces an improved immune response over giving each of them separately.

“With this trial, we hope to build on the work of our previous studies in Brazil to develop a safe, effective and affordable vaccine to prevent human hookworm infection,” said David Diemert, MD, director of clinical trials of the Sabin PDP and associate professor at GWU in Washington, DC. “A vaccine, in combination with currently available drugs, could help turn the tide against this pervasive disease, which afflicts the world’s poorest communities.”…

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Uganda Enacts Law to Improve National Immunization Efforts, Increase Domestic Financing for the National Program
KAMPALA, UGANDA — April 28, 2016 — The Sabin Vaccine Institute (Sabin) applauds the enactment of Uganda’s Immunization Act, 2016, which was recently signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni. The law mandates compulsory immunization of children, women of reproductive age and other target groups and establishes a new national immunization fund.

Notably, this legislation includes a provision to establish an “Immunization Financing and Administration Fund” to purchase vaccines and related supplies, cold chains and funding of immunization outreach activities. The fund will be financed through parliamentary appropriations and donations. The bill was introduced as a private members bill in the Ugandan Parliament in 2012 by Hon. Huda Oleru, a Member of Parliament from the Yumbe district, and was passed as an Act of parliament in December 2015…

IVAC [International Vaccine Access Center] [to 30 April 2016]
http://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/ivac/about-us/news.html

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[Undated]
IVAC Launches VIEW-hub Interactive Data Visualization Platform
IVAC’s new VIEW-hub (Vaccine Information and Epidemiology Window) platform is now live. VIEW-hub is a publicly accessible, interactive platform that enables users to instantly visualize data about vaccine introductions, product usage, dosing schedules, access, coverage, and more for a number of vaccines. Custom queries and maps, exportable data and graphics, and a map gallery are just some of the interactive features users can access.

VIEW-hub compiles data from a variety of official and unofficial vetted partner sources—WHO’s Immunization Data Repository and other official WHO sources, UNICEF, Gavi, government ministry of health websites, CDC, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, recurring literature sources, and vetted media—in a central platform where data visualization and summaries can be easily generated and customized. Data are gathered systematically across official sources as needed to ensure validity. VIEW-hub extends the functionality and content of the former Vaccine Information Management System (VIMS), allowing users to track progress and strategize ways to accelerate and optimize vaccine implementation…

MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 30 April 2016]
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news-stories/press/press-releases

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Press release
More than 400,000 Demand Pfizer and GSK Cut Price of Lifesaving Pneumonia Vaccine
April 27, 2016
MSF hands over global petition as volunteers place 2,500 flowers in front of Pfizer’s headquarters in New York, representing the number of kids who die of pneumonia each day.

Global Fund [to 30 April 2016]
http://www.theglobalfund.org/

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27 April 2016
Global Fund Board Approves Strategy 2017-2022
ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire – The Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria today approved a Strategy 2017-2022 to maximize impact, strengthen systems for health, promote and protect human rights and gender equality, and mobilize additional resources…

The Strategy, named “Investing to End Epidemics,” sets the groundwork for more effective implementation of health programs, so that partners can reach more people and achieve greater impact. The Global Fund partnership fosters innovative approaches that meet diverse country needs, with the common goal of ending HIV, TB and malaria. For good…

The Strategy adopted by the Board emerged from extensive consultations and broad engagement over the past two years. Hundreds of partners participated in strategy discussions at Partnership Forums in 2015 that were convened in Addis Ababa, Bangkok and Buenos Aires, and contributed through an e-Forum that collected views from all over the world.

The new strategy is fully aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals embraced by member states of the United Nations in September 2015, with a holistic and multidisciplinary approach that seeks to reach those most in need, reduce inequalities, and support sustainable transition across the development continuum as countries move toward self-sustainability.

The new strategy underlines the Global Fund’s commitment to contribute to building resilient and sustainable systems for health to support national strategies for health and national disease-specific strategic plans in each country. Strengthening data systems, and using existing data more effectively, is a key factor…

USAID [to 30 April 2016]
http://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases
April 25, 2016
Statement by USAID Administrator Gayle Smith on World Malaria Day
On World Malaria Day, USAID joins partners across the globe in commemorating incredible progress in the fight against malaria. But our fight is not over. A child still dies every two minutes from malaria. So we must also answer President Obama’s call and work to end malaria within a generation.

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EDCTP [to 30 April 2016]
http://www.edctp.org/
The European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) aims to accelerate the development of new or improved drugs, vaccines, microbicides and diagnostics against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as well as other poverty-related and neglected infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on phase II and III clinical trials.
25 April 2016
World Malaria Day 2016: joining forces to end malaria
There has been remarkable progress made in malaria control based on current World health Organisation estimates. Nonetheless, there is still much to be done in the fight against malaria in malaria prevention, diagnostic testing and treatment. The European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) supports malaria research in sub-Saharan African countries by funding clinical trials conducted by African-European research partnerships, as well as strengthening individual and institutional capacities to conduct trials. Since 2003, EDCTP has financed 42 malaria grants in malaria prevention, diagnostic testing and treatment. EDCTP, now in its second programme, is committed to continue working in partnership in a joint effort geared towards ending malaria.…

Reports/Research/Analysis/Commentary/Conferences/Meetings/Book Watch/Tenders
Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review has expanded its coverage of new reports, books, research and analysis published independent of the journal channel covered in Journal Watch below. Our interests span immunization and vaccines, as well as global public health, health governance, and associated themes. If you would like to suggest content to be included in this service, please contact David Curry at: david.r.curry@centerforvaccineethicsandpolicy.org

Transitioning from Gavi Support in Lower-Middle-Income Countries
CSIS | 25 April 2016
By Katherine Bliss, Katherine Peck

Since 2000, the U.S. government has been a strong partner of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, providing more than US$730 million through the end of September 2015 to support the introduction of new and underutilized vaccines in the world’s poorest countries. Lower-income countries receiving Gavi assistance have long been required to cofinance a portion of each vaccine dose procured with Gavi funds, with the expectation that as the countries reach lower-middle-income country status (LMIC), they will eventually transition away from Gavi support. To date, at least 24 of the original 73 Gavi-eligible countries have started to transition, with 16 expected to complete the process by the end of 2018.

The long history of U.S. support for global maternal and child health programs, its emphasis on assisting countries in strengthening their immunization programs, and considerable U.S. investments in Gavi over the past 15 years all underscore why the United States has an interest in ensuring LMIC transitions from Gavi support proceed smoothly and sustainably. Yet in many LMICs, the United States is scaling back its bilateral engagement on health. Examining the factors shaping the way countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are experiencing the Gavi transition process provides a helpful lens through which to examine options for U.S. engagement to support the sustainability of immunization programs in LMICs.

Pdf of report: http://csis.org/files/publication/160425_Bliss_TransitioningGAVISupport_Web.pdf

Statement by Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General, and Anthony Lake, UNICEF Executive Director on attacks on medical facilities and personnel in Syria
GENEVA/NEW YORK, 29 April 2016 – We join the many voices expressing outrage at the attack on Al Quds Hospital in Aleppo. Among those killed were two doctors, including one of the only remaining pediatricians in the city, three paramedics, and numerous patients, among them children.

We are outraged at the alarming frequency of attacks on health personnel and facilities in Syria. These incidents come amid an escalation of violence in particular in the northern parts of the country.

A few days ago, a mortar killed a gynecologist on his way home after treating wounded civilians at a UNICEF-supported clinic in Aleppo.
These attacks remind us of the enormous difficulties and dangers that Syrian health workers face every day. Those workers deserve more than our admiration. They deserve greater protection.

Attacks on them and on health facilities and the denial of healthcare services as well as medical equipment and supplies anywhere in Syria, are not only a blatant violation of International Humanitarian Law, but deprive families and communities of essential health care when they need it most.

UNICEF and WHO urge all parties to the conflict to end all attacks on health facilities, personnel and ambulances and to allow the provision of health services to the many innocent civilians in desperate need. Thousands of lives are at stake.

IPU Inter-Parliamentary Union [to 30 April 2016]
http://www.ipu.org/english/news.htm

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27 APRIL 2016
MPs’ meeting breaks new ground at World Health Assembly
MPs will meet alongside the World Health Assembly next month in the first event of its kind. It follows WHO Director-General Margaret Chan’s historic first address to an IPU Assembly in Geneva last October, in which she exhorted MPs to fulfil their unique and powerful role in delivering better health care to citizens. The meeting will strengthen parliamentary involvement in the World Health Organization and help ensure its decisions are translated into practical action by parliaments. MPs will be able to share and hear ideas on delivering the ambitious targets set under Sustainable Development Goal 3 on health – including universal health coverage – and the new Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health. The event, co-sponsored by Bangladesh, Italy and Lesotho, takes place on 26 May from 12:15 to 13:45 in Room 7 of the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The event is open to parliamentarians attending the 69th World Health Assembly as members of their national delegation.

African Union [to 30 April 2016]
http://www.au.int/en/

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April 27, 2016
Health experts define Africa’s health direction
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 27 April 2016- With the continental and global consensus on sustainable development in the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063 the African Union on Tuesday finalised the review of key health policy instruments that will guide the continent for the next 15 years. The review follows the Decision of the Ministers of Health last year mandating the AU Commission to finalise the revision of key AU health policy instruments.

“These health policy instruments will provide the strategic direction to secure health for all by 2030 in Africa” said Ambassador Olawale Maiyegun, the Director of Social Affairs.

The reviewed documents include the overarching Africa Health Strategy (2016-2030); the Maputo Plan of Action (2016-2030) for the implementation of the Continental Framework on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and the Catalytic Framework to end AIDS, TB and Eliminate Malaria in Africa by 2030.

The Africa Health Strategy is the primary consolidative document for all African commitments in the health sector. It will inspire, guide and highlight Africa’s strategic priorities in the next one and a half decade. The strategy calls on Member States to prioritise and invest in health through strengthened health systems, community engagement, fostering public private partnerships.

During the meeting Member State Experts also deliberated on the establishment of the African Health Volunteers Corps. The African Union is establishing the Corps as part of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The Africa CDC will assemble, equip, and mobilise a deployable roaster of volunteer medical and public health professionals. This will ensure rapid and effective responses to public health emergencies to Member States and address matters of global concern including health impacts of natural disasters and humanitarian crises.

Journal Watch
Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review continues its weekly scanning of key peer-reviewed journals to identify and cite articles, commentary and editorials, books reviews and other content supporting our focus on vaccine ethics and policy.

Journal Watch is not intended to be exhaustive, but indicative of themes and issues the Center is actively tracking. We selectively provide full text of some editorial and comment articles that are specifically relevant to our work. Successful access to some of the links provided may require subscription or other access arrangement unique to the publisher.

If you would like to suggest other journal titles to include in this service, please contact David Curry at: david.r.curry@centerforvaccineethicsandpolicy.org

American Journal of Preventive Medicine
May 2016 Volume 50, Issue 5, p553-676, e123-e162
http://www.ajpmonline.org/current

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Research Articles
Childhood Adversity and Adult Reports of Food Insecurity Among Households With Children
Jing Sun, Molly Knowles, Falguni Patel, Deborah A. Frank, Timothy C. Heeren, Mariana Chilton
p561–572
Published online: November 16 2015
Open Access
Preview
Exposure to childhood adversity, including abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, is associated with negative long-term health and economic outcomes. Little is known about how adversity exposure in parents’ early lives may be related to later food insecurity for parents and their children. This study investigated the association between female caregivers’ adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and household and child food insecurity, taking into account depressive symptoms.
Abstract
Introduction
Exposure to childhood adversity, including abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, is associated with negative long-term health and economic outcomes. Little is known about how adversity exposure in parents’ early lives may be related to later food insecurity for parents and their children. This study investigated the association between female caregivers’ adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and household and child food insecurity, taking into account depressive symptoms.
Methods
This study used cross-sectional data from 1,255 female caregivers of children aged 7.1% higher than IIV, but never cost saving when absolute LAIV effectiveness was <3.5% higher than IIV.
Conclusions
Results support CDC’s decision to no longer prefer LAIV use and provide guidance on effectiveness differences between influenza vaccines that might lead to preferential LAIV recommendation for children aged 2–8 years.

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National and State-Specific Td and Tdap Vaccination of Adult Populations
Peng-jun Lu, Alissa O’Halloran, Helen Ding, Jennifer L. Liang, Walter W. Williams
p616–626
Published online: November 21 2015
Preview
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends a single dose of tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) for adults followed by tetanus and diphtheria toxoids (Td) booster doses every 10 years thereafter. This study assessed recent Td and Tdap vaccination among adult populations.

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State Law and Standing Orders for Immunization Services
Alexandra M. Stewart, Megan C. Lindley, Marisa A. Cox
e133–e142
Published online: December 1 2015
Abstract
Introduction
This study determined whether state laws permit the implementation of standing orders programs (SOPs) for immunization practice. SOPs are an effective strategy to increase uptake of vaccines. Successful SOPs require a legal foundation authorizing delegation of immunization services performed by a wide range of providers, administered to broad patient populations, in several settings. Without legal permission to administer vaccines, non-physician health professionals (NPHPs) are unable to provide preventive services.
Methods
From 2012 through 2013, researchers analyzed the legal environment in 50 states and the District of Columbia to determine whether NPHPs are authorized to (1) assess patient immunization status; (2) prescribe vaccines; and (3) administer vaccines under their own practice license or delegated authority. Laws governing the following NPHPs were included: (1) medical assistants; (2) midwives; (3) nurses in advanced practice; (4) registered, practical, and vocational nurses; (5) physician assistants; and (6) pharmacists. Additionally, the review determined which vaccines may be administered, permissible patient populations, and allowable practice settings for each category of NPHP.
Results
The laws are highly variable, and no state authorizes all NPHPs to conduct all elements of immunization practice for all patients. The laws frequently indicate where NPHPs may or may not administer vaccines and outline permissible vaccines, eligible patients, and required level of supervision.
Conclusions
The variation in the laws could potentially present a challenge to successful implementation of public health goals to improve immunization rates. Expanded authorization of SOPs in all states could increase health practitioners’ ability to deliver recommended vaccines.

American Journal of Public Health
Volume 106, Issue 5 (May 2016)
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/toc/ajph/current

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AJPH GLOBAL HEALTH FORUM
UNIVERSAL COVERAGE
Being Fair in Universal Health Coverage: Prioritize Public Health Services for Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Mathew George
American Journal of Public Health: May 2016, Vol. 106, No. 5: 830–831

BMC Health Services Research
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmchealthservres/content
(Accessed 30 April 2016)

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Research article
Assessment of medicines use pattern using World Health Organization’s Prescribing, Patient Care and Health facility indicators in selected health facilities in eastern Ethiopia
About one-third of the world’s population lack access to essential medicines and this is further compounded by inappropriate prescription, dispensing, sale and use of the available medicines.
Arebu I. Bilal, Ebrahim D. Osman and Anwar Mulugeta
BMC Health Services Research 2016 16:144
Published on: 23 April 2016

BMC Medical Ethics
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcmedethics/content
(Accessed 30 April 2016)

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Research article
The ethics of community-based research with people who use drugs: results of a scoping review
Rusty Souleymanov, Dario Kuzmanović, Zack Marshall, Ayden I. Scheim, Mikiki Mikiki, Catherine Worthington and Margaret (Peggy) Millson
Published on: 29 April 2016
Abstract
Background
Drug user networks and community-based organizations advocate for greater, meaningful involvement of people with lived experience of drug use in research, programs and services, and policy initiatives. Community-based approaches to research provide an opportunity to engage people who use drugs in all stages of the research process. Conducting community-based participatory research (CBPR) with people who use drugs has its own ethical challenges that are not necessarily acknowledged or supported by institutional ethics review boards. We conducted a scoping review to identify ethical issues in CBPR with people who use drugs that were documented in peer-reviewed and grey literature.
Methods
The search strategy focused on three areas; community-based research, ethical issues, and drug use. Searches of five academic databases were conducted in addition to a grey literature search, hand-searching, and consultation with organizational partners and key stakeholders. Peer reviewed literature and community reports published in English between 1985 and 2013 were included, with initial screening conducted by two reviewers.
Results
The search strategy produced a total of 874 references. Twenty-five references met the inclusion criteria and were included in our thematic analysis. Five areas were identified as important to the ethics of CBPR with people who use drugs: 1) participant compensation, 2) drug user perspectives on CBPR, 3) peer recruitment and representation in CBPR, 4) capacity building, and 5) participation and inclusion in CBPR.
Conclusions
We critically discuss implications of the emerging research in this field and provide suggestions for future research and practice.

Child Care, Health and Development
May 2016 Volume 42, Issue 3 Pages 297–454
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cch.v42.3/issuetoc

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Reviews
Long-term cognitive and school outcomes of late-preterm and early-term births: a systematic review (pages 297–312)
E. Chan, P. Leong, R. Malouf and M. A. Quigley
Article first published online: 10 FEB 2016 | DOI: 10.1111/cch.12320

Reviews
The role of collaboration in the cognitive development of young children: a systematic review (pages 313–324)
J. Sills, G. Rowse and L.-M. Emerson
Article first published online: 16 MAR 2016 | DOI: 10.1111/cch.12330

Reviews
Interagency collaboration in children and young people’s mental health: a systematic review of outcomes, facilitating factors and inhibiting factors (pages 325–342)
M. Cooper, Y. Evans and J. Pybis
Article first published online: 10 FEB 2016 | DOI: 10.1111/cch.12322