The changing epidemiology of meningococcal meningitis after introduction of bivalent A/C polysaccharide vaccine into school-based vaccination programs in Egypt

We describe six meningococcal disease outbreaks that occurred in Angola during the period 1994–2000. In total, 7140 cases were documented. The age groups most affected were 15–29 years and 5–14 years; there were no differences in incidence between the sexes. Circulation of both serogroup A and sporadic serogroup B strains was demonstrated. Mass vaccination campaigns with A+C meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine were implemented, except in Yambala province in 1999 where insecure conditions precluded this intervention.Outbreaks of serogroup A meningococcal disease in Angola may indicate an extension of these epidemics outside the meningitis belt. Mass vaccination campaigns stopped the Angolan epidemics within weeks. Civil conflict and displaced persons living in crowded areas created serious difficulties for surveillance and impeded timely public health responses.

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Estimating the Size of Dog Populations in Tanzania to Inform Rabies Control

10.20944/preprints201807.0090.v1 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Maganga Sambo ◽

Katie Hampson ◽

Joel Changalucha ◽

Sarah Cleaveland ◽

Tiziana Lembo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Household Surveys ◽

Rigorous Evaluation ◽

Post Vaccination ◽

Vaccination Programs ◽

Canine Rabies ◽

School Based ◽

Dog Ownership ◽

Rabies Control ◽

Population Sizes ◽

Modelling Approach

Estimates of dog population sizes are a prerequisite for delivering effective canine rabies control. However, dog population sizes are generally unknown in most rabies-endemic areas. Several approaches have been used to estimate dog populations but without rigorous evaluation. We compare post-vaccination transects, household surveys and school-based surveys to determine which most precisely estimates dog population sizes. These methods were implemented across 28 districts in southeast Tanzania, in conjunction with mass dog vaccinations, covering a range of settings, livelihoods and religious backgrounds. Transects were the most precise method, revealing highly variable patterns of dog ownership, with human: dog ratios ranging from 12.4:1 to 181.3:1 across districts. Both household and school-based surveys generated imprecise and sometimes inaccurate estimates, possible due to low sample size. Transect data were subsequently used to develop a predictive model for estimating dog populations in districts lacking transect data. We predicted a dog population of 2,316,000 (95% CI 1,573,000-3,122,000) in Tanzania and an average human: dog ratio of 20.7:1. Our modelling approach has the potential be applied to predicting dog population size in other districts where mass dog vaccination is carried out, given census and livelihood data. We recommend transects as a rapid and effective method to refine dog population estimates across large geographic areas and guide dog vaccination programs.

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Investigating Stakeholder Attitudes and Opinions on School-Based Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Programs

Journal of School Health ◽

10.1111/josh.12253 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 85 (5) ◽

pp. 289-298 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Jessica A. Nodulman ◽

Randall Starling ◽

Alberta S. Kong ◽

David B. Buller ◽

Cosette M. Wheeler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Papillomavirus ◽

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination ◽

Vaccination Programs ◽

School Based ◽

Stakeholder Attitudes

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Nurse Volunteers in School-Based Hepatitis B Immunization Programs

The Journal of School Nursing ◽

10.1177/10598405010170040301 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 17 (4) ◽

pp. 185-188 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Hayley Mark ◽

Verna G. Conklin ◽

Margaret C. Wolfe

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis B Virus ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

School Health ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Local Health ◽

Vaccination Programs ◽

School Year ◽

School Based ◽

B Virus ◽

And Training

School districts across the nation are implementing school-based hepatitis B virus vaccination programs. Because adolescents are at risk of contracting hepatitis B virus, these programs are important in preventing infections. Critical to the success of these programs is having qualified and cost-effective health professionals to administer the vaccine. This article describes the recruitment and training of professional nurse volunteers to administer vaccines in school-based clinics. During the 1998–1999 school year, approximately 60 nurses in Durham, North Carolina, volunteered 300 hours of time to the program. In the first year, the cost of recruiting and training volunteers exceeded the savings from salaried school nurse time. However, savings are expected in future years. Other benefits of recruiting volunteers to administer vaccine include allowing school nurses to remain in their usual assignments, increasing awareness of the health department’s mission and school health in the community, and improving collaboration among local health agencies.

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Incentives and Motivators in School-Based Hepatitis B Vaccination Programs

Journal of School Health ◽

10.1111/j.1746-1561.1997.tb03446.x ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 67 (7) ◽

pp. 265-268 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Lisa M. Unti ◽

Karin K. Coyle ◽

Bradley A. Woodruff ◽

Lynda Boyer-Chuanroong

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis B ◽

Hepatitis B Vaccination ◽

Vaccination Programs ◽

School Based

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Schoolteachers’ experiences of implementing school-based vaccination programs against human papillomavirus in a Chinese community: a qualitative study

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-019-7878-7 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Judy Yuen-man Siu ◽

Albert Lee ◽

Paul K. S. Chan

Keyword(s):

Hong Kong ◽

Human Papillomavirus ◽

Cultural Values ◽

Perceived Risk ◽

Hpv Vaccination ◽

Government Support ◽

Chinese Community ◽

Vaccination Programs ◽

School Based ◽

Common Cancer

Abstract Background Cervical cancer was the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide in 2012 and was the eighth most common cancer in 2014 and the eighth greatest cause of female cancer deaths in Hong Kong in 2015. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination has been clinically documented to have a high efficacy in reducing HPV-related cervical intraepithelial neoplasia incidence. Therefore, receiving vaccination is a crucial public health measure to reduce disease burden. Significant others, such as schools and schoolteachers, have prominent influence in shaping adolescents’ health perceptions and behavior. Therefore, the perspective of schools and schoolteachers regarding vaccination can significantly influence students’ acceptance and accessibility of the vaccine. However, few studies have analyzed the perceptions of schoolteachers toward HPV vaccination, and even fewer have concerned how schoolteachers’ perceptions influence their schools’ motivation in implementing school-based HPV vaccination programs. This study was thus conducted to fill this literature gap. Methods With a Chinese community as the field site of this study, a qualitative approach of five focus group interviews was conducted with 35 schoolteachers from five primary and eight secondary schools in Hong Kong between July 2014 and January 2015. Thematic content analysis was used for data analysis. Results Perceptual, institutional, student and parental, and collaborator barriers interacted to discourage the sampled schoolteachers from organizing school-based HPV vaccination programs. Lack of knowledge regarding HPV vaccination, perception of HPV vaccination as inappropriate given the students’ age, violation of traditional cultural values, lack of perceived needs and perceived risk, opposition from schools, low priority of HPV vaccination over other health education topics, lack of government support, lack of interest from parents and students, and lack of confidence in implementing organizations, all were the mentioned barriers. Conclusions The sampled schoolteachers were demotivated to organize school-based HPV vaccination programs because of their perceptions and various social and cultural factors. As significant influencers of adolescent students, schoolteachers and schools should receive more support and information on organizing school-based HPV vaccination programs in the future.

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A rebuttal: epidemic and endemic meningococcal meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa can be prevented now by routine immunization with group A meningococcal capsular polysaccharide vaccine

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal ◽

10.1097/00006454-200010000-00001 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 19 (10) ◽

pp. 945-953 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

JOHN B. ROBBINS ◽

RACHEL SCHNEERSON ◽

EMIL C. GOTSCHLICH

Keyword(s):

Capsular Polysaccharide ◽

Polysaccharide Vaccine ◽

Meningococcal Meningitis ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Routine Immunization ◽

Group A ◽

Sub Saharan

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Evolution of Public Health Human Papillomavirus Immunization Programs in Canada

Current Oncology ◽

10.3390/curroncol28010097 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 991-1007

Author(s):

Alexandra Goyette ◽

Glorian P. Yen ◽

Voica Racovitan ◽

Parambir Bhangu ◽

Smita Kothari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Human Papillomavirus ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Prince Edward Island ◽

Hpv Vaccination ◽

Hpv Infection ◽

After School ◽

Vaccination Programs ◽

School Based ◽

Coverage Rates

Background: Since 2007, all Canadian provinces and territories have had a publicly funded program for vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The objective of this study was to describe the evolution of these vaccination programs. Methods: This was a targeted literature review of public HPV vaccination programs and vaccination coverage rates, based on information provided by jurisdictional public health authorities. Results: HPV vaccination of schoolgirls began in school years 2007/08 to 2010/11 with three doses of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine in all provinces except Quebec, which started with two doses. By 2018/19, all jurisdictions were vaccinating with two doses of the nonavalent vaccine in both girls and boys, except Quebec, which used a mixed vaccination schedule with one dose of the nonavalent and one dose of the bivalent vaccines. Public HPV vaccination programs in most provinces include after-school catch-up vaccination. Immunocompromised or other high-risk individuals are eligible for the HPV public vaccination program in most provinces, but policies vary by jurisdiction. In 2017/18, vaccination coverage rates in provincial HPV school-based programs varied from 62% in Ontario to 86% in Prince Edward Island in girls and from 58% in Ontario to 86% in Prince Edward Island in boys. Conclusions: Since their introduction, Canadian school-based HPV public vaccination programs have evolved from a three-dose to a two-dose schedule, from a quadrivalent to a nonavalent vaccine, and from a girls-only to a gender-neutral policy. Vaccination coverage rates have varied markedly and only Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland/Labrador have maintained rates exceeding 80%.

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