Pneumococcal meningitis trends after pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction in Colombia: An interrupted time-series analysis.

Colombia introduced mass pneumococcal conjugate vaccination at the end of 2011. Using 2005-2015 surveillance data, we conducted a retrospective interrupted time-series analysis. A significant trend towards reduced monthly was observed in the post-vaccination period (2012-2015) compared with the expected rate, reaching in 2015 a reduction of 90.5% of pneumococcal meningitis. This trend was not observed for control diseases.

Epidemiologia das rotaviroses antes e após a introdução da vacina / Rotavirus epidemiology before and after vaccine introduction

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a prevalência e a circulação dos genótipos de rotavírus, antes e após a introdução da vacina oral contra rotavírus humano, bem como verificar uma possível mudança na faixa etária de ocorrência da infecção pelo RV-A. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado no período de 2002 a 2011, em Juiz de Fora, MG. Foram avaliados 1.144 espécimes fecais diarreicos, obtidos de crianças de 0 a cinco anos não hospitalizadas, que foram analisadas por PAGE e RT-PCR. Os dados relativos à prevalência e distribuição etária dos casos de rotavirose foram analisados pelo teste χ2 (p < 0,05), utilizando-se o programa SPSS, versão 13.0. RESULTADOS: Infecções por rotavírus foram detectadas em 9,35% (107/1.144) das amostras, com prevalências variando de 11,12% (90/809) no período pré-vacinal a 5,07% (17/335) no pós-vacinal (p = 0,001). Dentre as amostras caracterizadas, os genótipos mais frequentemente detectados foram G1P[6] (6/33 = 18,2%) no período 2002-2005 e G2P[4] no ano de 2006 (11/33 = 33,3%) e no período 2007-2011 (5/33 = 15,2%). Observou-se, ainda, uma redução significativa no número de casos de rotavirose em crianças de 0 a 36 meses, após a introdução da vacina. CONCLUSÕES: O estudo revelou queda significativa na prevalência de rotavírus, principalmente na faixa etária de 0 a 36 meses, no período 2007-2011, bem como redução na circulação do genótipo G1.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence and circulation of rotavirus genotypes before and after the introduction of oral vaccine against human rotavirus (OVHR), and to check for a possible change in the age of occurence of the infection by RV-A. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted between 2002-2011, in the city of Juiz de Fora, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A total of 1,144 diarrheal stool specimens were obtained from nonhospitalized children aged between 0 and 5 years, and analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction for genotype characterization. Data on prevalence and age distribution of rotavirus cases were analyzed through the chi-squared test (p < 0.05), using SPSS, release 13.0. RESULTS: Rotavirus infection was detected in 9.35% (107/1,144) samples, with prevalence rates ranging from 11.12% (90/809) in the pre-vaccine to 5.07% (17/335) in the post-vaccine period (p = 0.001). Among the samples tested, the most frequently detected genotypes were G1P[6] (6/33 = 18.2%) in the period between 2002 and 2005 and G2P[4] in 2006 (11/33 = 33.3%) and in the period between 2007 and 2011 (5/33 = 15.2%). There was also a significant reduction in the number of cases of rotavirus disease in children aged between 0 and 36 months after the vaccine introduction. CONCLUSIONS: The study evidenced a significant decrease in the prevalence of rotavirus, mainly in children aged between 0 and 36 months in the 2007-2011 period, as well as a reduction in G1 genotype circulation.

Rotavirus epidemiology before and after vaccine introduction.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence and circulation of rotavirus genotypes before and after the introduction of oral vaccine against human rotavirus, and to check for a possible change in the age of occurence of the infection by RV-A. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted between 2002-2011, in the city of Juiz de Fora, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A total of 1,144 diarrheal stool specimens were obtained from nonhospitalized children aged between 0 and 5 years, and analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction for genotype characterization. Data on prevalence and age distribution of rotavirus cases were analyzed through the chi-squared test (p < 0.05), using SPSS, release 13.0. RESULTS: Rotavirus infection was detected in 9.35% (107/1,144) samples, with prevalence rates ranging from 11.12% (90/809) in the pre-vaccine to 5.07% (17/335) in the post-vaccine period (p = 0.001). Among the samples tested, the most frequently detected genotypes were G1P[6] (6/33 = 18.2%) in the period between 2002 and 2005 and G2P[4] in 2006 (11/33 = 33.3%) and in the period between 2007 and 2011 (5/33 = 15.2%). There was also a significant reduction in the number of cases of rotavirus disease in children aged between 0 and 36 months after the vaccine introduction. CONCLUSIONS: The study evidenced a significant decrease in the prevalence of rotavirus, mainly in children aged between 0 and 36 months in the 2007-2011 period, as well as a reduction in G1 genotype circulation.

Guía de vacunaciones en adultos, niños y adolescentes: consenso de expertos / Guide vaccinations in adults, children and adolescents: expert consensus

Este consenso ha sido actualizado por profesionales interesados y con experiencia en la vacunación, pertenecientes a la Sociedad Venezolana de Infectología y Sociedad Venezolana de Puericultura y Pediatría y Sociedad Venezolana de Salud Pública. El esquema de vacunas del adulto aplica a personas desde los 18 años de edad, mientras que el esquema de niños y adolescentes a personas hasta los 18 años de edad. Se considera esquema completo, cuando se han administrado todas las dosis y/o sus respectivos refuerzos, de acuerdo con su edad correspondiente y riesgos. Se presentan los esquemas en forma de calandelarios de manera que los profesionales del sector salud y afines, como la población en general puedan utilizarlos de manera práctica como esquema de bolsillo para su consulta rápida

Effectiveness of influenza vaccination and its impact on health inequalities.

BACKGROUND: Since 1998, annual publicly funded campaigns for mass vaccination against influenza of the population aged 65 years or older have been performed in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. The effectiveness of the intervention was not assessed for its contribution to the reduction of influenza-attributable mortality. This study sought to compare the age-specific mortality (65 years or older) before and after the onset of yearly vaccination, and to assess the impact of the intervention on health inequalities in relation to inner-city areas. METHODS: Official information on deaths and population allowed assessment of overall pneumonia and influenza mortality. Monitoring of outbreaks and the estimation of mortality attributable to influenza peaks used Serfling and ARIMA models. Rates were compared between 1998 and 2002, when vaccination coverage ranked higher than 60% among individuals aged 65 years or older, and 1993-97 (prior to vaccination). RESULTS: Overall mortality due to pneumonia and influenza fell by 26.3% after vaccination. An even higher reduction was observed for mortality specifically attributable to influenza epidemics; the number of peaks of influenza mortality also decreased. Deprived areas of the city had a higher decrease of mortality by pneumonia and influenza during the vaccination period. CONCLUSIONS: Influenza vaccination contributed to reduce influenza-attributable mortality in this age group, and was associated with the reduction of inequalities in the burden of the disease among social groups. The concurrent promotion of health and social justice is feasible when there is political will and commitment to implement public health interventions with prompt and effective universal access.

Viral hepatitis prevention by immunization.

OBJECTIVE: To present an updated review and criticism of viral hepatitis A and B prevention by immunization. SOURCES OF DATA: Review of medical articles obtained from the MEDLINE database. The most recent and representative articles on the subject (2000-2006) were selected. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Brazilian Society of Pediatrics and Brazilian Ministry of Health websites were also researched. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS: Viral hepatitis prevention is an enormous challenge to the public health systems of countries and the medical and scientific communities. Hepatitis viruses produce important morbidity and mortality in the world, causing acute and chronic hepatic disease. There are highly efficient vaccines available on the market to prevent new infections by the A and B viruses. However, A and B viruses continue to be among the most commonly notified diseases preventable by vaccines. In this article, we discuss the vaccines used to prevent these infections, with the aim of expanding knowledge and the practice of prevention of these infectious diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Although the vaccines against A and B hepatitis are recommended for various risk groups, estimated vaccine coverage is still modest and many vaccination opportunities are lost. In order to reduce the incidence of A and B hepatitis, which are preventable by vaccines, it is necessary for physicians to encourage their patients to be vaccinated.

Prevenção das hepatites virais através de imunização / Viral hepatitis prevention by immunization

OBJETIVO: Apresentar uma revisão atualizada e crítica da prevenção das hepatites virais A e B, através de imunização. FONTE DOS DADOS: Revisão de artigos médicos obtidos através do banco de dados MEDLINE, sendo selecionados os mais atuais e representativos do tema (2000-2006). Foram também pesquisados os sites do Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) e American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), da Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria (SBP) e do Ministério da Saúde do Brasil. SíNTESE DOS DADOS: A prevenção das hepatites virais é um enorme desafio para o sistema de saúde pública dos países e das comunidades médica e científica. Os vírus das hepatites ocasionam importante morbimortalidade no mundo, causando doença hepática aguda e crônica. Vacinas altamente eficazes estão disponíveis no mercado para prevenir novas infecções pelos vírus A e B. Entretanto, as hepatites virais A e B continuam a estar entre as doenças preveníveis por vacinas mais comumente notificadas. Neste artigo, revisamos as vacinas usadas para prevenir essas infecções com o objetivo de expandir o conhecimento e o uso da prevenção dessas doenças infecciosas. CONCLUSÃO: Embora as vacinas contra as hepatites A e B sejam recomendadas para vários grupos de risco, a cobertura vacinal estimada ainda é modesta e existem muitas oportunidades perdidas de vacinação. Para que haja diminuição na incidência das hepatites A e B, duas doenças preveníveis por vacinas, é necessário que os médicos incentivem seus pacientes a receber as vacinas.

Políticas de control de la influenza en Chile / Policies for influenza control in Chile

El control de la influenza se logra sobre la base de dos componentes principales: la vigilancia epidemiológica y la vacunación. En ambos aspectos, Chile tiene un alto posicionamiento en el mundo y exhibe las mejores cifras de la región, logrando una reducción de la mortalidad por influenza y neumonía en la medida del aumento en la cobertura de vacunación, la que en la actualidad alcanza a 11 por ciento de la población. La amenaza de una pandemia es permanente y obliga a los países a tener preparadas sus estrategias especiales de enfrentamiento.

Escenario virológico, epidemiológico y social de la erradicación global de la polio. Visión cubana, 1998-2004

Esta investigación de seis años, se propuso analizar los resultados y la significación de la experiencia cubana de 43 años de aplicación de un Programa Antipolio único en el mundo y aportar fundamentos científicos sólidos e integrados para trazar la política más pertinente con la defensa de la salud de los niños del planeta. para calcular el tiempo de circulación y permanencia de los virus derivados de la vacuna oral, VOP, se tomaron 673 muestras de heces fecales de niños menores de tres años vacunados en la campaña antipolio de 1998 y 56 muestras de aguas albañales de sus zonas de residencia. Ambos tipos de muestras se sometieron a aislamiento e identificación de poliovirus, y se trazaron las curvas de eliminación en los dos medios...(AU)

Influenza vaccination in Brazil: rationale and caveats.

Mass vaccination campaigns against influenza in the elderly have been conducted in Brazil since 1999. A search of the literature on influenza in Brazil indicated that data on disease burden are still scarce and inaccurate. Published data seem to indicate that vaccination has produced some impact in the southern and southeastern regions but not in other regions of Brazil. A discussion of the technical and scientific rationale for mass immunization against influenza is presented and it is argued that the current strategy has not taken into account potential differences in disease occurrence in different areas. It is suggested some epidemiological surveillance actions needed to address major concerns regarding mass influenza vaccination and its impact in Brazil.