Modeling poliovirus surveillance and immunization campaign quality monitoring costs for Pakistan and Afghanistan for 2019-2023

Abstract Background The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) Strategic Plan for 2019-2023 includes commitments to monitor the quality of immunization campaigns using lot quality assurance sampling surveys (LQAS) and to support poliovirus surveillance in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Methods We analyzed LQAS and poliovirus surveillance data between 2016 and 2020, which included both acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) case-based detection and the continued expansion of environmental surveillance (ES). Using updated estimates for unit costs, we explore the costs of different options for future poliovirus monitoring and surveillance for Pakistan and Afghanistan. Results The relative value of the information provided by campaign quality monitoring and surveillance remains uncertain and depends on the design, implementation, and performance of the systems. Prospective immunization campaign quality monitoring (through LQAS) and poliovirus surveillance will require tens of millions of dollars each year for the foreseeable future for Pakistan and Afghanistan. Conclusions LQAS campaign monitoring as currently implemented in Pakistan and Afghanistan provides limited and potentially misleading information about immunization quality. AFP surveillance in Pakistan and Afghanistan provides the most reliable evidence of transmission, whereas ES provides valuable supplementary information about the extent of transmission in the catchment areas represented at the time of sample collection.

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Use of Call Centers in Polio Eradication Efforts in Island Settlement in Chad

Journal of Immunological Sciences ◽

10.29245/2578-3009/2021/s2.1113 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol Special Issue (2) ◽

pp. 87-93

Author(s):

Adele Daleke Lisi Aluma ◽

Sam Koulmini ◽

Souley Kalilou ◽

Obianuju Igweonu ◽

Felix Amadou Kouassi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Call Centers ◽

Immunization Coverage ◽

Oral Polio Vaccine ◽

Polio Eradication ◽

Routine Immunization ◽

Community Leaders ◽

African Region ◽

Global Polio Eradication Initiative ◽

Telephone Calls ◽

Immunization Campaign

Background: One of the four key strategies of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is high immunization coverage, with oral polio vaccine as part of routine immunization schedules. However, given the weak routine immunization structures in the African Region, coverage is enhanced with supplemental immunization activities (SIAs), and mop-up immunizations. Unfortunately, anecdotal information show that vaccination teams sometimes omit some catchments areas without immunization. This paper thus describes the use of “Call Centers” in detecting missed populations and taking prompt corrective action. Method: The study was based on review of call records during polio supplemental immunization campaigns in Bol Districts in Chad from February to May 2018. The immunization coverage resulting from these campaigns was compared with that of February 2018. A compilation of data – details on communities, community leaders, and their phone numbers was performed. On the eve of the campaign, community leaders were alerted on the vaccinators’ visitThe community leaders were called on the eve of the campaign to alert them on the visit of the vaccinators. At the end of each day, activities (visits as well) were reviewed at the coordination centres Vaccinators were asked to return to any community where community leaders did not confirm visits). Result: Telephone calls allowed the verification and confirmation of the vaccinators visits in 92% of cases. Villages where vaccination was planned but which were not reached were revisited. More than 1,011 children were caught up through this approach in 10 villages in the Bol district. Conclusion: In conclusion, call centers played significantly higher role in generating covering more children with immunization during immunization campaign.

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Some lessons for malaria from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative

Malaria Journal ◽

10.1186/s12936-021-03690-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Matiana González-Silva ◽

N. Regina Rabinovich

Keyword(s):

Polio Eradication ◽

Vaccine Virus ◽

Surveillance Systems ◽

Polio Virus ◽

History Of ◽

Eradication Campaign ◽

Global Polio Eradication Initiative ◽

Governance Strategy ◽

Malaria Eradication ◽

Near Future

AbstractThe Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) was launched in 1988 with the aim of completely clearing wild polio viruses by 2000. More than three decades later, the goal has not been achieved, although spectacular advances have been made, with wild polio virus reported in only 2 countries in 2019. In spite of such progress, novel challenges have been added to the equation, most importantly outbreaks of vaccine-derived polio cases resulting from reversion to neurovirulence of attenuated vaccine virus, and insufficient coverage of vaccination. In the context of the latest discussions on malaria eradication, the GPEI experience provides more than a few lessons to the malaria field when considering a coordinated eradication campaign. The WHO Strategic Advisory Committee on Malaria Eradication (SAGme) stated in 2020 that in the context of more than 200 million malaria cases reported, eradication was far from reach in the near future and, therefore, efforts should remain focused on getting back on track to achieve the objectives set by the Global Technical Strategy against Malaria (2016–2030). Acknowledging the deep differences between both diseases and the stages they are in their path towards eradication, this paper draws from the history of GPEI and highlights relevant insights into what it takes to eradicate a pathogen in fields as varied as priority setting, global governance, strategy, community engagement, surveillance systems, and research. Above all, it shows the critical need for openness to change and adaptation as the biological, social and political contexts vary throughout the time an eradication campaign is ongoing.

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CoKnowEMe: An Edge Evaluation Scheme for QoS of IoMT Microservices in 6G Scenario

Future Internet ◽

10.3390/fi13070177 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 177

Author(s):

Grazia Veronica Aiosa ◽

Barbara Attanasio ◽

Aurelio La Corte ◽

Marialisa Scatá

Keyword(s):

Communication Networks ◽

Systems Approach ◽

Evaluation Model ◽

Service Evaluation ◽

Important Change ◽

Supplementary Information ◽

Analytical Scheme ◽

Evaluation Scheme ◽

Reducing Costs ◽

And Performance

The forthcoming 6G will attempt to rewrite the communication networks’ perspective focusing on a shift in paradigm in the way technologies and services are conceived, integrated and used. In this viewpoint, the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) represents a merger of medical devices and health applications that are connected through networks, introducing an important change in managing the disease, treatments and diagnosis, reducing costs and faults. In 6G, the edge intelligence moves the innovative abilities from the central cloud to the edge and jointly with the complex systems approach will enable the development of a new category of lightweight applications as microservices. It requires edge intelligence also for the service evaluation in order to introduce the same degree of adaptability. We propose a new evaluation model, called CoKnowEMe (context knowledge evaluation model), by introducing an architectural and analytical scheme, modeled following a complex and dynamical approach, consisting of three inter-operable level and different networked attributes, to quantify the quality of IoMT microservices depending on a changeable context of use. We conduct simulations to display and quantify the structural complex properties and performance statistical estimators. We select and classify suitable attributes through a further detailed procedure in a supplementary information document.

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Strengthening the Partnership Between Routine Immunization and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative to Achieve Eradication and Assure Sustainability

The Journal of Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/infdis/jiu041 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 210 (suppl 1) ◽

pp. S498-S503 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

J. Abdelwahab ◽

V. Dietz ◽

R. Eggers ◽

C. Maher ◽

M. Olaniran ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Polio Eradication ◽

Routine Immunization ◽

Global Polio Eradication Initiative

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The Global Context of Vaccine Refusal: Insights from a Systematic Comparative Ethnography of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative

Medical Anthropology Quarterly ◽

10.1111/maq.12254 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 30 (3) ◽

pp. 321-341 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Svea Closser ◽

Anat Rosenthal ◽

Kenneth Maes ◽

Judith Justice ◽

Kelly Cox ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Polio Eradication ◽

Global Context ◽

Vaccine Refusal ◽

Global Polio Eradication Initiative ◽

Comparative Ethnography

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Quality assessment of linked Canadian clinical administrative hospital and vital statistics death data

International Journal for Population Data Science ◽

10.23889/ijpds.v3i4.978 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Nancy Rodrigues ◽

Maureen Kelly ◽

Tobi Henderson

Keyword(s):

Assessment Tool ◽

Vital Statistics ◽

Data Availability ◽

Supplementary Information ◽

Five Dimensions ◽

Tracking Process ◽

Data Assessment ◽

Hospital Deaths ◽

And Performance ◽

Discharge From Hospital

IntroductionThree Canadian clinical-administrative hospital databases were linked to the Canadian Vital Statistics Death Database (CVSD) to provide information about patients who died following discharge from hospital as well as supplementary information about patients that died in-hospital. Quality was assessed using a guided approach and through feedback from initial users. Objectives and ApproachThe linked datasets were created to develop and validate health care indicators and performance measures and perform outcome analyses. It is therefore imperative to evaluate the data’s fitness for use. Quality was assessed by calculating coverage of deaths for all linked contributors, creating a profile of the linked dataset and analyzing issues that were identified by users. These analyses were guided by an existing Data Source Assessment Tool, which provides a set of criteria that allow for assessment across five dimensions of quality, thus allowing for appropriate determination of a given set of data’s fitness for use. ResultsDeterministic linkage of the datasets resulted in linkage rates that ranged from 66.9% to 90.9% depending on the dataset or data year. Linkage rates also varied by Canadian jurisdictions and patient cohort. Variables had good data availability with rates of 95% or higher. Initial users identified a significant number of duplicate records that were flagged to and corrected by the data supplier. 1.4\% of acute hospital deaths had discrepancies in the death date captured in the two linked sources; the vast majority had a difference of only one day. A user group and issue tracking process were created to share information about the linked data and guarantee that issues are triaged to the appropriate party and allow for timely follow up with the data supplier. Conclusion/ImplicationsDocumentation provided by the data supplier was vital to understanding the linkage methodology and its impact on linkage rates. A guided data assessment ensured that strengths and limitations were identified and shared to support appropriate use. Feedback to the data supplier is supporting ongoing improvements to the linkage methodology.

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A Collaborative Initiative to Strengthen Sustainable Public Health Capacity for Polio Eradication and Routine Immunization Activities in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

JMIR Public Health and Surveillance ◽

10.2196/14664 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. e14664

Author(s):

Magid Al Gunaid ◽

Faris Lami ◽

Najwa Jarour

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Mediterranean Region ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽

Polio Eradication ◽

Routine Immunization ◽

Vaccine Preventable Diseases ◽

Global Polio Eradication Initiative ◽

Eradicate Polio ◽

And Control

The many challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean region put the involved countries at risk of polio transmission and affect their ability to meet progress targets in eliminating vaccine-preventable diseases. The Global Health Development (GHD) and Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET) are working together on the project “Strengthening sustainable public health capacity in the Eastern Mediterranean region for polio eradication and routine immunization activities” with an overall goal of improving routine immunization, eradicating poliovirus, and controlling/eliminating or eradicating other vaccine-preventable diseases in the Eastern Mediterranean region. The aim of this manuscript is to describe the project and the achievements of GHD/EMPHNET over the last 3 years (2016-2018) to build effective surveillance and immunization systems in the Eastern Mediterranean region through the development of a sustainable and competent public health system to eradicate polio and control/eliminate vaccine-preventable diseases. This project assists the targeted Eastern Mediterranean region countries to build effective surveillance and immunization systems in an effort to expand their capacities to eradicate polio and control/eliminate other vaccine-preventable diseases. The project is streamlined with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Strategic Framework for Global Immunization 2016-2020, and the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018. The project also supports the Global Health Security Agenda by focusing on efforts to accelerate progress toward a world safe and secure from infectious disease threats. Project activities were designed to respond to countries’ needs and assist them in building their institutional and workforce capacity to effectively plan, implement, and evaluate activities to eradicate polio and strengthen routine immunization activities. The project activities covered a set of areas including surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis and other vaccine-preventable diseases, family and community engagement, workforce capacity building, improvement of data quality, management and use of information systems, use of polio assets to control/eliminate other vaccine-preventable diseases, support of countries to develop national strategies, piloting of innovative initiatives, program evaluation and accountability, and immunization strengthening. The project adopts the Global Polio Eradication Initiative strategies for assisting countries to strengthen routine immunization services, maintain highly sensitive acute flaccid paralysis surveillance, and sustain polio eradication functions.

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