Adolescent vaccine co-administration and coverage in New York City: 2007-2013.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate adolescent vaccination in New York City, we assessed tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap), meningococcal conjugate (MCV4), and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake, vaccine co-administration, and catch-up coverage over time. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Citywide Immunization Registry, a population-based immunization information system, to measure vaccine uptake and co-administration, defined as a Tdap vaccination visit where MCV4 or HPV vaccine was co-administered, among 11-year-olds. Catch-up vaccinations were evaluated through 2013 for adolescents born 1996 to 2000, by birth cohort. HPV vaccination among boys included data from 2010 to 2013. RESULTS: Adolescent vaccine administration was greatest during the back-to-school months of August to October and was highest for Tdap. Although MCV4 uptake improved over the study years, HPV vaccine uptake among girls stagnated; boys achieved similar uptake of HPV vaccine by 2012. By 2013, 65.4% had MCV4 co-administered with Tdap vaccine, whereas 28.4% of girls and 25.9% of boys had their first dose of HPV vaccine co-administered. By age 17, Tdap and MCV4 vaccination coverage increased to 97.5% and 92.8%, respectively, whereas ≥1-dose and 3-dose HPV vaccination coverage were, respectively, 77.5% and 53.1% for girls and 49.3% and 21.6% for boys. Age-specific vaccination coverage increased with each successive birth cohort (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: From 2007 to 2013, there were greater improvements in Tdap and MCV4 vaccination than HPV vaccination, for which co-administration with Tdap vaccine and coverage through adolescence remained lower. Parent and provider outreach efforts should promote timely HPV vaccination for all adolescents and vaccine co-administration.

Prostvac-VF: a vector-based vaccine targeting PSA in prostate cancer.

Prostvac is a prostate cancer vaccine regimen consisting of a recombinant vaccinia vector as a primary vaccination, followed by multiple booster vaccinations employing a recombinant fowlpox vector. Both vectors contain the transgenes for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and multiple T-cell co-stimulatory molecules (TRICOM). The PSA-TRICOM vaccines infect antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and generate proteins that are expressed on the surface of the APCs in an immune context. The interaction of these APCs with T cells initiates a targeted immune response and T cell-mediated tumor cell destruction. Preliminary clinical trials have indicated negligible toxicity, and Phase II trials have suggested a survival benefit after treatment with Prostvac, especially in patients with indolent disease characteristics. Preclinical and clinical data indicate that radiation, hormonal therapy, and chemotherapy may be combined with Prostvac to enhance the vaccine's efficacy. Additional strategies are in development to further enhance the clinical benefits of Prostvac, and a Phase III trial is being planned in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Vacuna Pentavalente y Coberturas de Vacunación en Menores de un Año. Colombia 2000-2003 / Pentavalent vaccine and vaccination coverage in children aged less than one in Colombia 2000-2003

Objetivo: Determinar el impacto de la inclusión de la vacuna pentavalente en las coberturas de terceras dosis de los niños menores de un año, entre 2000 y 2003, por niveles de agregación geográfica. Materiales y métodos: Es un estudio ecológico que utiliza como unidades de análisis al departamento, provincia, municipio y ciudad capital. Compara cobertura de terceras dosis, índice de deserción, número de localidades con coberturas de mayores de 80 por ciento y número de niños vacunados, antes y después de la introducción. Compara poblaciones y número de unidades geográficas con necesidades básicas insatisfechas, conflicto armado o categoría municipal con coberturas mayores de 80 por ciento. Resultados: El incremento de la cobertura estuvo entre 23 y 36,5 por ciento, mayor para Hib3 La deserción en el 2000 fue 9,3 a 31,7 por ciento y 0,3 por ciento en el 2003 De 265 municipios con coberturas Hib3 mayores de 80 por ciento en el 2000 se avanzó a 627 en el 2003. En el 2000 se aplicaron 462 a 584 mil terceras dosis y en el 2003 entre 805 y 813 mil. Se evidenció aumento en el número de municipios con coberturas superiores a 80 por ciento que tenían altas necesidades insatisfechas, bajos ingresos socioeconómicos, población urbana o conflicto armado. Conclusiones: La introducción de la vacuna tuvo efectos sobre las coberturas. Es recomendable asegurar la financiación de esta vacuna y la realización de estudios para introducir nuevas vacunas o combinaciones.