Monthly Archives: August 2019

Evaluating vaccination policies to accelerate measles elimination in China: a meta-population modelling study

Posted on by

International Journal of Epidemiology
Volume 48, Issue 4, August 2019
https://academic.oup.com/ije/issue/48/4

 

Infectious Disease
Evaluating vaccination policies to accelerate measles elimination in China: a meta-population modelling study
Lixin Hao, John W Glasser, Qiru Su, Chao Ma, Zhilan Feng …
International Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 48, Issue 4, August 2019, Pages 1240–1251, https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyz058

Update on the global epidemiology of intussusception: a systematic review of incidence rates, age distributions and case-fatality ratios among children aged <5 years, before the introduction of rotavirus vaccination

Posted on by

International Journal of Epidemiology
Volume 48, Issue 4, August 2019
https://academic.oup.com/ije/issue/48/4

 

Miscellaneous
Update on the global epidemiology of intussusception: a systematic review of incidence rates, age distributions and case-fatality ratios among children aged <5 years, before the introduction of rotavirus vaccination
Andrew D Clark, Mateusz Hasso-Agopsowicz, Matthew W Kraus, Lisa K Stockdale, Colin F B Sanderson …
International Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 48, Issue 4, August 2019, Pages 1316–1326, https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyz028

Building a robust ecosystem for vaccine research in India

Posted on by

International Journal of Infectious Diseases
July 2019 Volume 84, Supplement, S1-S86
https://www.ijidonline.com/issue/S1201-9712(19)X0012-0

 

Dengue Fever in India: Supplement sponsored by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, and collated by the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute
Edited by Gagandeep Kang, Anita Shet
Open Access
Building a robust ecosystem for vaccine research in India
Renu Swarup, Alka Sharma, Jyoti M. Logani
S7–S9
Published online: March 14, 2019

Bioethics of establishing a CHIM model for dengue vaccine development

Posted on by

International Journal of Infectious Diseases
July 2019 Volume 84, Supplement, S1-S86
https://www.ijidonline.com/issue/S1201-9712(19)X0012-0

 

Bioethics of establishing a CHIM model for dengue vaccine development
Anuradha Rose, Amrita Sekhar
S74–S79
Published online: January 11, 2019
Abstract
Introduction
Controlled human infection models (CHIM) have been used in vaccine development to up-select and down-select potential vaccine candidates and to provide proof of vaccine efficacy, and have also been used as a basis for licensure of vaccines for cholera and typhoid by regulatory agencies.
CHIM in dengue vaccines development
Dengue fever results in ∼400 million infections a year and is of significant health concern especially in India. There are currently no antivirals for the disease and the only licensed vaccine for dengue is not widely used owing to safety concerns. Controlled dengue human challenge models (DHCM) are currently being used to assess the efficacy of vaccines in development for dengue.
Dengue CHIM in India
Conducting CHIM studies in India especially for evaluation of dengue vaccine candidates will be hugely beneficial as the disease is endemic to India and hence the effect of pre-exposure to the virus on vaccine safety and efficacy can be established. However, to date no CHIM studies have been conducted in India and there is a need to educate ethics committee members, policy makers and the public on the importance of such studies and what they entail.

Charting a Pathway to Multisectoral Investments in Adolescent Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Posted on by

Journal of Adolescent Health
July 2019 Volume 65, Issue 1, Supplement, S1-S52
https://www.jahonline.org/issue/S1054-139X(19)X0004-X

 

An Investment Case to Guarantee the Rights of Adolescents
Edited by Anju Malhotra
Editorial
Charting a Pathway to Multisectoral Investments in Adolescent Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Anju Malhotra
S1–S2
Published in issue: July 2019

An Investment Case to Guarantee the Rights of Adolescents

Posted on by

Journal of Adolescent Health
July 2019 Volume 65, Issue 1, Supplement, S1-S52
https://www.jahonline.org/issue/S1054-139X(19)X0004-X

 

Commentary
An Investment Case to Guarantee the Rights of Adolescents
Satvika Chalasani, Danielle Engel, Howard S. Friedman, Anneka Knutsson, Jacqueline Mahon, George Patton, Susan M. Sawyer
S3–S7
Published in issue: July 2019
Abstract
Adolescence is a dynamic life phase with rapid physical growth and sexual development and acquisition of neurocognitive and socioemotional skills. It is in adolescence that the foundations for future health and well-being are laid; assets acquired across adolescence (such as health, social, and emotional well-being and education) have profound implications for lifelong health, well-being, life chances, and choices, as well as for a country’s social and economic development [1–3]. Given adolescents’ sensitivity to their environments, deliberate, well-targeted, and well-funded policies and programs designed to promote supportive, safe, learning environments can be particularly beneficial.

Twenty‐two years’ experience registering trials in a low‐middle income country: The Peruvian Clinical Trial Registry

Posted on by

Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine
Volume 12, Issue 3 Pages: 185-231 August 2019
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/17565391/current

 

ARTICLES
Twenty‐two years’ experience registering trials in a low‐middle income country: The Peruvian Clinical Trial Registry
The registration of clinical trials in Peru has improved quantitatively and qualitatively since it started, but its quantitative grow stopped in 2008. Since then, the number of registries has declined steadily. There is an influence of pharmaceutical companies in clinical trial registration.
Christoper A. Alarcon‐Ruiz, Joel Sack Roque‐Roque, Paula Heredia, Angie Roxana Gómez‐Briceno, Antonio M. Quispe
Pages: 187-193
First Published: 18 June 2019

What Is the Value of Different Zika Vaccination Strategies to Prevent and Mitigate Zika Outbreaks?

Posted on by

Journal of Infectious Diseases
Volume 220, Issue 6, 15 September 2019
https://academic.oup.com/jid/issue/220/6

 

VIRUSES
Editor’s Choice
What Is the Value of Different Zika Vaccination Strategies to Prevent and Mitigate Zika Outbreaks?
Sarah M Bartsch, Lindsey Asti, Sarah N Cox, David P Durham, Samuel Randall …
The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 220, Issue 6, 15 September 2019, Pages 920–931, https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiy688
We simulated various vaccination strategies to mitigate Zika outbreaks in Honduras, Brazil, and Puerto Rico. While vaccinating everyone naturally averted the most cases, specifically targeting women of childbearing age or young adults was the most cost-effective and even provided cost savings.

Infant Pneumococcal Carriage During Influenza, RSV, and hMPV Respiratory Illness Within a Maternal Influenza Immunization Trial

Posted on by

Journal of Infectious Diseases
Volume 220, Issue 6, 15 September 2019
https://academic.oup.com/jid/issue/220/6

 

Infant Pneumococcal Carriage During Influenza, RSV, and hMPV Respiratory Illness Within a Maternal Influenza Immunization Trial
Alastair F Murray, Janet A Englund, Jane Kuypers, James M Tielsch, Joanne Katz …
The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 220, Issue 6, 15 September 2019, Pages 956–960, https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiz212
Among influenza-positive infants, those born to mothers given influenza vaccine had lower pneumococcal carriage rates. Maternal influenza immunization may impact infant pneumococcal acquisition during influenza infection. Pneumococcal carriage did not impact lower respiratory disease rates in RSV, hMPV, or influenza.

Revisiting the Correlate of Reduced HIV Infection Risk in the Rv144 Vaccine Trial

Posted on by

Journal of Virology
September 2019; Volume 93,Issue 17
http://jvi.asm.org/content/current

 

Commentary
Revisiting the Correlate of Reduced HIV Infection Risk in the Rv144 Vaccine Trial
The RV144 vaccine trial is the only clinical study to have shown a modest but statistically significant decrease in HIV infection risk. RV144 and the subsequent studies identifying the level of V1V2-specific antibodies as a correlate of reduced infection risk are still controversial despite many papers supporting and expanding the initial study.

Population-level impact and herd effects following the introduction of human papillomavirus vaccination programmes: updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Posted on by

The Lancet
Aug 24, 2019 Volume 394Number 10199p611-708, e20-e27
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

 

Articles
Population-level impact and herd effects following the introduction of human papillomavirus vaccination programmes: updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Mélanie Drolet, Élodie Bénard, Norma Pérez, Marc Brisson on behalf of the HPV Vaccination Impact Study Group
More than 10 years have elapsed since human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination was implemented. We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of the population-level impact of vaccinating girls and women against human papillomavirus on HPV infections, anogenital wart diagnoses, and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2+ (CIN2+) to summarise the most recent evidence about the effectiveness of HPV vaccines in real-world settings and to quantify the impact of multiple age-cohort vaccination.

Opportunities, resources, and techniques for implementing genomics in clinical care

Posted on by

The Lancet
Aug 24, 2019 Volume 394Number 10199p611-708, e20-e27
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

 

Series
Genomic Medicine
Opportunities, resources, and techniques for implementing genomics in clinical care
Teri A Manolio, Robb Rowley, Marc S Williams, Dan Roden, Geoffrey S Ginsburg, Carol Bult, Rex L Chisholm, Patricia A Deverka, Howard L McLeod, George A Mensah, Mary V Relling, Laura Lyman Rodriguez, Cecelia Tamburro, Eric D Green

Data without borders

Posted on by

Lancet Digital Health
Aug 2019 Volume 1Number 4e148-e192
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/issue/current

 

Editorial
Data without borders
The Lancet Digital Health
[Excerpt]
…Many barriers to cross-sector data sharing have been identified by policy makers and others, including privacy concerns, restrictions on the export of patient data, and lack of access to advanced technology in limited-resource settings. Despite the challenges, there is growing evidence that cross-sector data sharing, if done carefully and transparently, will lead to improved health outcomes for populations. As such, although this could be a daunting task for governments, data sharing across sectors should be made a priority. Genuine, long-lasting government support is necessary, both in terms of political and financial commitment, if quick progress towards bridging population health and clinical medicine for better health care is to be achieved. A first step would be open communication between governments, academics, and private industries to develop unified platforms for sharing and analysis of diverse data.

Key concepts for making informed choices

Posted on by

Nature
Volume 572 Issue 7770, 22 August 2019
http://www.nature.com/nature/current_issue.html

 

Comment | 12 August 2019
Key concepts for making informed choices
Teach people to think critically about claims and comparisons using these concepts, urge Andrew D. Oxman and an alliance of 24 researchers — they will make better decisions.
Jeffrey K. Aronson, Eric Barends[…] & Luke Vale
Volume 572 Issue 7768, 8 August 2019

Seeking precision in public health

Posted on by

Nature Medicine
Volume 25 Issue 8, August 2019
https://www.nature.com/nm/volumes/25/issues/8

 

Editorial | 06 August 2019
Seeking precision in public health
‘Precision’ in a health context is usually thought to apply to the individual and seems conceptually at odds with efforts in public health directed toward improving population-level health metrics. But are these two aims truly irreconcilable?

Accounting for Capacity Constraints in Economic Evaluations of Precision Medicine: A Systematic Review

Posted on by

PharmacoEconomics
Volume 37, Issue 8, August 2019
https://link.springer.com/journal/40273/37/8

 

Systematic Review
Accounting for Capacity Constraints in Economic Evaluations of Precision Medicine: A Systematic Review
Precision (stratified or personalised) medicine is underpinned by the premise that it is feasible to identify known heterogeneity using a specific test or algorithm in patient populations and to use this information to guide patient care to improve health and well-being. This study aimed to understand if, and how, previous economic evaluations of precision medicine had taken account of the impact of capacity constraints.
Stuart J. Wright, William G. Newman, Katherine Payne

Vaccination coverage in the context of the emerging Yellow Fever threat in French Guiana

Posted on by

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
http://www.plosntds.org/
(Accessed 24 Aug 2019)

 

Research Article
Vaccination coverage in the context of the emerging Yellow Fever threat in French Guiana
Claude Flamand, Sarah Bailly, Camille Fritzell, Sandrine Fernandes Pellerin, Alhassane Toure, Naïssa Chateau, Mona Saout, Sébastien Linares, Fabien Dubois, Laurent Filleul, Mirdad Kazanji
| published 19 Aug 2019 PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007661

Effects of maternal influenza vaccination on adverse birth outcomes: A systematic review and Bayesian meta-analysis

Posted on by

PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 24 Aug 2019]

 

Research Article
Effects of maternal influenza vaccination on adverse birth outcomes: A systematic review and Bayesian meta-analysis
Sohyun Jeong, Eun Jin Jang, Junwoo Jo, Sunmee Jang
Research Article | published 14 Aug 2019 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220910

Cost-effectiveness analysis of universal varicella vaccination in Turkey using a dynamic transmission model

Posted on by

PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 24 Aug 2019]

 

Research Article
Cost-effectiveness analysis of universal varicella vaccination in Turkey using a dynamic transmission model
Lara J. Wolfson, Vincent J. Daniels, Matthew Pillsbury, Zafer Kurugöl, Cuneyt Yardimci, Jeffrey Kyle, Ener Cagri Dinleyici
Research Article | published 13 Aug 2019 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220921

Pneumococcal vaccination rates in immunocompromised patients—A cohort study based on claims data from more than 200,000 patients in Germany

Posted on by

PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 24 Aug 2019]

 

Research Article
Pneumococcal vaccination rates in immunocompromised patients—A cohort study based on claims data from more than 200,000 patients in Germany
Niklas Schmedt, Julia Schiffner-Rohe, Ralf Sprenger, Jochen Walker, Christof von Eiff, Dennis Häckl
Research Article | published 08 Aug 2019 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220848

BCG vaccination and tuberculosis prevention: A forty years cohort study, Monastir, Tunisia

Posted on by

PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 24 Aug 2019]

 

Research Article
BCG vaccination and tuberculosis prevention: A forty years cohort study, Monastir, Tunisia
Cyrine Bennasrallah, Meriem Kacem, Wafa Dhouib, Imen Zemni, Manel Ben Fredj, Hela Abroug, Amira Djobbi, Assia Green, Samia Grira Said, Issam Maalel, Sarra Stambouli, Wafa Zhir, Hichem Bel Haj Youssef, Asma Sriha Belguith
Research Article | published 05 Aug 2019 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0219991

In the eye of the storm: Infectious disease challenges for border countries receiving Venezuelan migrants

Posted on by

Travel Medicine and Infectious Diseases
Volume 30 Pages 1-148 (July–August 2019)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/travel-medicine-and-infectious-disease/vol/30/suppl/C

 

Editorial No access
In the eye of the storm: Infectious disease challenges for border countries receiving Venezuelan migrants
Alfonso J. Rodríguez-Morales, José Antonio Suárez, Alejandro Risquez, Sergio Cimerman, … Alberto Paniz-Mondolfi
Pages 4-6

A Systematic Review of therapeutic agents for the treatment of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

Posted on by

Travel Medicine and Infectious Diseases
Volume 30 Pages 1-148 (July–August 2019)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/travel-medicine-and-infectious-disease/vol/30/suppl/C

 

Research article Abstract only
A Systematic Review of therapeutic agents for the treatment of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)
Hisham Momattin, Anfal Y. Al-Ali, Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq
Pages 9-18

Yellow fever (YF) vaccination does not increase dengue severity: A retrospective study based on 11,448 dengue notifications in a YF and dengue endemic region

Posted on by

Travel Medicine and Infectious Diseases
Volume 30 Pages 1-148 (July–August 2019)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/travel-medicine-and-infectious-disease/vol/30/suppl/C

 

Research article Abstract only
Yellow fever (YF) vaccination does not increase dengue severity: A retrospective study based on 11,448 dengue notifications in a YF and dengue endemic region
Marina Jolli Luppe, Alice Tobal Verro, Alana S. Barbosa, Maurício L. Nogueira, … Natal S. da Silva
Pages 25-31

Pre-vaccination screening strategies for the use of the CYD-TDV dengue vaccine: A meeting report

Posted on by

Vaccine
Volume 37, Issue 36 Pages 5137-5504 (23 August 2019)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/37/issue/36

 

Conference report
Pre-vaccination screening strategies for the use of the CYD-TDV dengue vaccine: A meeting report
A. Wilder-Smith, P. G. Smith, R. Luo, C. Kelly-Cirino, D. Curry, H. Larson, A. Durbine, M. Chu, P. Tharmaphornpilasg, L.C. Ng, A. M. C. Sartorii, E. J. A. Lunai, D. J. Gubler, G. Espanal, I.K. Yoon, S. Flasche
Abstract
The first licensed dengue vaccine, CYD-TDV (Dengvaxia) is efficacious in seropositive individuals, but increases the risk for severe dengue in seronegative persons about two years after administration of the first dose. For countries considering the introduction of Dengvaxia, WHO recommends a pre-vaccination screening strategy whereby only persons with evidence of a past dengue infection would be vaccinated. Policy-makers need to consider the risk-benefit of vaccination strategies based on such screening tests, the optimal age to introduce the vaccine, communication and implementation strategies. To address these questions, the Global Dengue and Aedes-transmitted diseases Consortium (GDAC) organized a 3-day workshop in January 2019 with country representatives from Asia and Latin America.
The meeting discussions highlighted many challenges in introducing Dengvaxia, in terms of screening test characteristics, costs of such tests combined with a 3-dose schedule, logistics, achieving high coverage rates, vaccine confidence and communication; more challenges than for any other vaccine introduction programme. A screening test would require a high specificity to minimize individual risk, and at the same time high sensitivity to maximize individual and population benefit. The underlying seroprevalence dependent positive predictive value is the best indicator for an acceptable safety profile of a pre-vaccination screening strategy. The working groups discussed many possible implementation strategies. Addressing the bottlenecks in school-based vaccine introduction for Dengvaxia will also benefit other vaccines such as HPV and booster doses for tetanus and pertussis. Levels of public trust are highly variable and context specific, and understanding of population perceptions and concerns is essential to tailor interventions, monitor and mitigate risks.

Evaluation of the impact of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine immunization in children by surveillance of culture-confirmed pneumococcal disease: A prospective clinical microbiological study

Posted on by

Vaccine
Volume 37, Issue 36 Pages 5137-5504 (23 August 2019)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/37/issue/36

 

Research article Abstract only
Evaluation of the impact of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine immunization in children by surveillance of culture-confirmed pneumococcal disease: A prospective clinical microbiological study
Chih-Ho Chen, Lin-Hui Su, Hsin-Chieh Li, Mei-Hua Hsu, … Cheng-Hsun Chiu
Pages 5147-5152

Optimising informed consent in school-based adolescent vaccination programmes in England: A multiple methods analysis

Posted on by

Vaccine
Volume 37, Issue 36 Pages 5137-5504 (23 August 2019)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/37/issue/36

 

Research article Open access
Optimising informed consent in school-based adolescent vaccination programmes in England: A multiple methods analysis
Tracey Chantler, Louise Letley, Pauline Paterson, Joanne Yarwood, … Sandra Mounier-Jack
Pages 5218-5224

Impact of vaccination delay on deaths averted by pneumococcal conjugate vaccine: Modeled effects in 8 country scenarios

Posted on by

Vaccine
Volume 37, Issue 36 Pages 5137-5504 (23 August 2019)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/37/issue/36

Research article Open access
Impact of vaccination delay on deaths averted by pneumococcal conjugate vaccine: Modeled effects in 8 country scenarios
Emily D. Carter, Yvonne Tam, Neff Walker
Pages 5242-5249

A path model of psychosocial constructs predicting future Zika vaccine uptake intent

Posted on by

Vaccine
Volume 37, Issue 36 Pages 5137-5504 (23 August 2019)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/37/issue/36

 

Research article Abstract only
A path model of psychosocial constructs predicting future Zika vaccine uptake intent
Jeanine P.D. Guidry, Kellie E. Carlyle, Paul B. Perrin, Jessica G. LaRose, … Marcus Messner
Pages 5233-5241

 

Long-term immunogenicity of measles, mumps and rubella-containing vaccines in healthy young children: A 10-year follow-up

Posted on by

Vaccine
Volume 37, Issue 36 Pages 5137-5504 (23 August 2019)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/37/issue/36

 

Research article Open access
Long-term immunogenicity of measles, mumps and rubella-containing vaccines in healthy young children: A 10-year follow-up
Stephane Carryn, Muriel Feyssaguet, Michael Povey, Emmanuel Di Paolo
Pages 5323-5331

Procurement of Category 2 Vaccines in China

Posted on by

Vaccines — Open Access Journal
http://www.mdpi.com/journal/vaccines
(Accessed 24 Aug 2019)

 

Open Access Article
Procurement of Category 2 Vaccines in China
by Jian-Lin Zhuang, Abram L. Wagner, Megan Laffoon, Yi-Han Lu and Qing-Wu Jiang
Vaccines 2019, 7(3), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines7030097 (registering DOI) – 23 August 2019
Abstract
Internationally, vaccine pricing is relatively opaque, although many low- or lower-middle-income countries belong to international consortiums that jointly procure vaccines. China procures vaccines domestically, and vaccines that require payment from the public (“category 2 vaccines”), have undergone several regulatory changes over the past 15 years. This study aims to describe the vaccine procurement method changes in China since 2005 and to analyze how the procurement method impacted vaccine price. This review of vaccine procurement reforms found that a shift to provincial-level Group Purchasing Organizations after 2016 was accompanied by an increase in most prices. There was more variability in vaccine prices across provinces for vaccines with only one supplier, and these vaccines have a higher price than what is found in United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)-supported countries. China’s current procurement system for non-mandatory vaccines leaves these vaccines costing several-fold more than in other countries, and in particular those supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Exploring a variety of methods to reduce vaccine purchase prices will not only directly benefit the general population, but also the government, as they aim to implement more programs to benefit public health in a cost-effective manner.

Moving from Empirical to Rational Vaccine Design in the ‘Omics’ Era

Posted on by

Vaccines — Open Access Journal
http://www.mdpi.com/journal/vaccines
(Accessed 24 Aug 2019)

 

Open Access Review
Moving from Empirical to Rational Vaccine Design in the ‘Omics’ Era
by Mansi Sharma, Florian Krammer, Adolfo García-Sastre and Shashank Tripathi
Vaccines 2019, 7(3), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines7030089 – 14 August 2019
Abstract
An ideal vaccine provides long lasting protection against a pathogen by eliciting a well-rounded immune response which engages both innate and adaptive immunity. However, we have a limited understanding of how components of innate immunity, antibody and cell-mediated adaptive immunity interact and function together at a systems level. With advances in high-throughput ‘Omics’ methodologies it has become possible to capture global changes in the host, at a cellular and molecular level, that are induced by vaccination and infection. Analysis of these datasets has shown the promise of discovering mechanisms behind vaccine mediated protection, immunological memory, adverse effects as well as development of more efficient antigens and adjuvants. In this review, we will discuss how systems vaccinology takes advantage of new technology platforms and big data analysis, to enable the rational development of better vaccines.

An Ethical Analysis of Coverage With Evidence Development

Posted on by

Value in Health
August 2019 Volume 22, Issue 8, p845-974
https://www.valueinhealthjournal.com/issue/S1098-3015(19)X0008-X

 

HEALTH POLICY ANALYSIS
An Ethical Analysis of Coverage With Evidence Development
Drew Carter, Tracy Merlin, David Hunter
p878–883
Published online: May 16, 2019
Abstract
Sometimes a government or other payer is called on to fund a new health technology even when the evidence leaves a lot of uncertainty. One option is for the payer to provisionally fund the technology and reduce uncertainty by developing evidence. This is called coverage with evidence development (CED). Only-in-research CED, when the payer funds the technology only for patients who participate in the evidence development, raises the sharpest ethical questions. Is the patient coerced or induced into participating? If so, under what circumstances, if any, is this ethically justified? Building on work by Miller and Pearson, we argue that patients have a right to funding for a technology only when the payer can be confident that the technology provides reasonable value for money. Technologies are candidates for CED precisely because serious questions remain about value for money, and therefore patients have no right to technologies under a CED arrangement. This is why CED induces rather than coerces. The separate question of whether the inducement is ethically justified remains. We argue that CED does pose risks to patients, and the worse these risks are, the harder it is to justify the inducement. Finally, we propose conditions under which the inducement could be ethically justified and means of avoiding inducement altogether. We draw on the Australian context, and so our conclusions apply most directly to comparable contexts, where the payer is a government that provides universal coverage with a regard for cost-effectiveness that is prominent and fairly clearly defined.

A Scoping Review of Investment Cases for Vaccines and Immunization Programs

Posted on by

Value in Health
August 2019 Volume 22, Issue 8, p845-974
https://www.valueinhealthjournal.com/issue/S1098-3015(19)X0008-X

 

SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW
A Scoping Review of Investment Cases for Vaccines and Immunization Programs
So Yoon Sim, Mark Jit, Dagna Constenla, David H. Peters, Raymond C.W. Hutubessy
p942–952
Published online: June 10, 2019
Abstract
Background
Many investment cases have recently been published intending to show the value of new health investments, but without consistent methodological approaches.
Objectives
To conduct a scoping review of existing investment cases (using vaccines and immunization programs as an example), identify common characteristics that define these investment cases, and examine their role within the broader context of the vaccine development and introduction.
Methods
A systematic search was conducted from January 1980 to November 2017 to identify investment cases in the area of vaccines and immunization programs from gray literature and electronic bibliographic databases. Investment case outcomes, objectives, key variables, target audiences, and funding sources were extracted and analyzed according to their reporting frequency.
Results
We found 24 investment cases, and most of them aim to provide information for decisions (12 cases) or advocate for a specific agenda (9 cases). Outcomes presented fell into 4 broad categories—burden of disease, cost of investment, impact of investment, and other considerations for implementation. Number of deaths averted (70%), incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (67%), and reduction in health and socioeconomic inequalities (54%) were the most frequently reported outcome measures for impact of investment. Health system capacity (79%) and vaccine financing landscape (75%) were the most common considerations for implementation. A sizable proportion (41.4%) of investment cases did not reveal their funding sources.
Conclusions
This review describes information that is critical to decision making about resource mobilization and allocation concerning vaccines. Global efforts to harmonize investment cases more broadly will increase transparency and comparability.

Measles Elimination: Identifying Susceptible Sub-Populations to Tailor Immunization Strategies

Posted on by

Viruses
Volume 11, Issue 8 (August 2019)
https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/11/8

 

Open Access Communication
Measles Elimination: Identifying Susceptible Sub-Populations to Tailor Immunization Strategies
by Peter Kreidl, David Ammerer, Reinhard Würzner, Anita Luckner Hornischer, Dorothee von Laer and Wegene Borena
Viruses 2019, 11(8), 765; https://doi.org/10.3390/v11080765
Received: 31 July 2019 / Revised: 14 August 2019 / Accepted: 16 August 2019 / Published: 20 August 2019
Abstract
Measles elimination has been identified as a public health priority in Europe for a long time but has not yet been achieved. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends identification of susceptible sub-populations to target supplementary immunization activities. We used three different sources of information: retrospective samples investigated for measles IgG between 1997 and 2016, vaccine coverage data from the existing electronic registry for birth cohorts 2015 to 1999, and surveillance data from 2009 until 20 July 2019. We calculated susceptibility by birth cohort using seroprevalence data, adjusting vaccine coverage data with reported effectiveness (93% for the first and 97% for the second dose, respectively), and compared it with measles incidence data, aggregated by birth cohorts and districts. Susceptibility levels for persons 10–41 years (birth cohorts 2007–1976) were 10.4% and thus far above the recommended values of WHO (5%). Older birth cohorts were sufficiently protected. Districts with the highest susceptibility estimates corresponded with districts with the highest incidence rates. Birth cohorts with susceptibility levels > 10% showed a 4.7 increased relative risk of having had more than one measles case. We conclude that retrospective serosurveys are a cheap and useful approach in identifying susceptible sub-populations, especially for older birth cohorts whose coverage data remain scarce.

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

Posted on by

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

Occupational Medicine
Published: 17 August 2019
Influenza and vaccination: beliefs and practices of local authority staff
D Mc Conalogue, N Verle, H Ellis, S Scott –
Abstract
Background
Influenza causes large outbreaks every year. Professionals outside healthcare, including social care staff and non-care giving roles, have a key role in protecting their clients and sustaining operational productivity through influenza vaccination. There has been little research on non-healthcare staff working with vulnerable people and those working in non-caregiving settings regarding influenza and influenza vaccination.
Aims
To understand the practices, experiences, perceptions and motivations of local authority staff regarding influenza and influenza vaccination.
Methods
Semi-structured focus groups were carried out with local authority staff in Gloucestershire. Transcripts were thematically analysed.
Results
Participants tended to perceive influenza as a serious illness, where a person had a specific risk factor or during pandemics. They did not feel vulnerable unless they had previous experience of infection or had an underlying health condition. Motivation to vaccinate was based on previous experience of influenza, where they had a close family member at risk or when working directly with vulnerable clients. Beliefs about negative side effects of the vaccine were the strongest reason for vaccine refusal. Ease of access to vaccination through on-site clinics is key to uptake. Management are perceived as key motivators or blockers to vaccine uptake.
Conclusions
Workers outside healthcare settings do not feel vulnerable to influenza and have low motivation to vaccinate, unless they have previous experience of infection or an underlying health condition. Vaccination programmes must proactively address workers’ beliefs and motivations to ensure their participation in flu vaccination programmes.

 

Omega
Available online 9 August 2019
Review
Vaccine distribution chains in low-and middle-income countries: A literature review
K De Boeck, C Decouttere, N Vandaele – Omega, 2019
Highlights
:: We present an overview of the main characteristics and challenges inherent to vaccine distribution chains in low- and middle-income countries.
:: An in-depth classification of the relevant OR/OM papers is provided.
:: A variety of problems reported in practice receives little attention or even remains unexplored in the current OR/OM literature.
:: A number of uncertainties and characteristics is not yet considered by the OR/OM community.
Abstract
Access to immunization varies greatly across the world. In order to increase vaccine coverage, the required vaccines need to be able to reach the targeted population. However, in low- and middle-income countries, this often turns out to be a challenging task. This article provides a literature review on vaccine distribution chains in low- and middle-income countries and consists of two main parts. The first part elaborates on the characteristics and challenges inherent to such distribution chains. In order to obtain a complete overview, both quantitative and qualitative papers are included. In the second part, relevant operations research and operations management literature is structured according to seven classification criteria: decision level, methodology, part of the vaccine distribution chain modelled, uncertainties and characteristics covered, performance measures, real-life applicability, and countries and vaccines covered. Throughout these classifications, a comparison is made between the issues reported in practice and those investigated in the operations research and operations management literature. Based on this analysis, we identify trends and conclude that several gaps exist, providing a promising avenue for future research.

 

Paripex – Indian Journal Of Research
Vol 8, No 2 (2019)
FACTORS INFLUENCING PARENTAL WILLINGNESS FOR THEIR BABY’S PARTICIPATION IN VACCINE CLINICAL TRIALS
N Hanumante, D Desale, MRB Deshmukh
Abstract
The study was planned to determine factors influencing parental decisions to permit their baby, to participate or not, in randomized vaccine clinical trials with the aim of improving recruitment in vaccine clinical trials.
This was prospective cross sectional non interventional study. Study population consisted of parents (n=125) of babies aged 6-8 weeks, A questionnaire was used which covered the basic demographic information and reasons for parents’ willingness for their baby to participate or not into clinical trials.
The demographic characteristics of participating babies which were in favour of clinical trial participation were i.e. female child & successive birth order.  Establishing trust with parents, counselling both parents, explaining study in detail as regards to risk/benefits, valuing their time, emerge to be the key factors for increasing participation of babies in vaccine clinical trial.