Post00382 SOLAR + VAX INTRO + SURVEY REMINDER 9 October 2001
CONTENTS
1. HYBRID SOLAR?
2. RE: A "THINK PIECE" ON INTRODUCTION OF NEW VACCINE
3. ANNUAL TECHNET FORUM SUBSCRIBER SURVEY REMINDER
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1. HYBRID SOLAR?
In Technet Forum Post00375, Item 3, 18 September 2001, a New Your Times
article "Solar Power Is Reaching Where Wires Can't" By David Lipschultz, was
posted.
The article provided an update on the more favourable situation in terms of
the lower cost and innovative financing of small scale solar power systems
for rural areas in developing countries.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/09/business/09SOLA.html?todaysheadlines/Septe
mber 9, 2001
Hybrid solar systems use both available sunlight and available mains
electricity to charge batteries, and can provide very reliable power under
appropriate conditions including limited hours of electricity and or
sunlight.
* John Lloyd, PATH/CVP asks about Technet subscribers experience with hybrid
solar power systems.
Replies to: [[email protected]][email protected][/email] or use your reply button!
___________________________________________________________________________
From: "John Lloyd"
To: "Technet Moderator"
Subject: RE: Post00375 + SOLAR
Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001
Good to hear about solar again.
Does anyone have experience of 'hybrid' systems that run on PV panels and
batteries but which also run on grid electricity when it is available?
Seems to me that such systems might work well in areas with a bit of
electricity.
John Lloyd
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2. RE: A "THINK PIECE" ON INTRODUCTION OF NEW VACCINE
In Post00373, 10 September 2001, Robert Steinglass, BASICS, contributed a
thought provoking paper: "How to introduce new combination vaccines
(tetravalent and pentavalent): some practical and ethical questions"
In Post00375 18 September 2001, Alan Schnur, WHO/CHN, contributed to the
discussion, pointing out that:
......" ... there are cost, training and logistics implications for
this policy to provide full hepatitis B immunization to the "first" cohort,
but I would submit that the ethical and programmatic considerations of
sending children away from our immunization sessions only partially
immunized must also be considered."
In todays postings, John Lloyd PATH/CVP, explains the EPI policy, while
Dianne Phillips, DOH/SA, explains South Africa's policy and the reasons for
it. Anthony Battersby, FBA, points out the need for operational planning and
a variety of vaccine presentations when new vaccines are introduced.
Replies, comments and thoughts to: [[email protected]][email protected][/email]
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From: "John Lloyd"
To: Technet Moderator
Subject: RE: a "think piece" on introduction of new vaccine
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2001
Thanks Robert for, again, bringing a 'field' perspective to these important
policy decisions. You may be thick skinned and I simple minded, but I would
offer the following comments:
First, No backlog or catchup. This was a policy of EPI at the start
(although not universally accepted!) that children born after the launch
have the right to a full series of a combo vaccine. Older kids get the rest
of their DTP series, with DTP vaccine or combination vaccine, whichever is
available. Thus, the first year of introduction achieves one cohort of
infants with the full series plus a portion of the previous cohort who are
partially immunized with the new antigens.
This single policy deals with, I think, all of your thorns and keeps the
management and stock control simple enough to be successfully explained,
managed and accepted by the people.
All the best,
John
---
Date: Wed, 05 Sep 2001 13:33:08 +0200
From: "Dianne Phillips"
To: Technet Moderator
Subject: Re: a "think piece" on introduction of new vaccine
Hi All,
In South Africa, we decided on a policy to administer DTP-Hib to all
children presenting for 6, 10 or 14 week routine immunisation visit at the
facilities.
In the earlier implementation document it was stated that "as few cases of
invasive Hib disease occur after the second birthday of a child, no older
child requires nay further doses".
We had no catch-up policy, mainly because of the added cost burden which we
could not afford. In addition, children who had completed the primary
schedule before the Hib implementation date were considered "older children"
and received the 18 month booster of DTP as usual.
Regards
Dianne
Domain Leader: Distribution Tel: +2712 3120329
National Cold Chain Manager Fax: +27123244525
Department of Health Mobile: +2782 8069253
Private Bag X828
PRETORIA
South Africa 0001
---
Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001
From: Anthony Battersby
Subject: Post00373 NEW VAX INTRO
Sender: Anthony Battersby
To: Technet Moderator
Dear Allan,
Robert and I also discussed this issue at Technet [New Delhi meeting].
Thank goodness he has brought up these issues. What he is highlighting is
the need for proper operational planning. A combo vaccine is a new vaccine
and if there are children who are halfway through the old schedule then the
service has an obligation to provide the vaccine that they need to complete
it. This means that there will always have to be a stock of monovalent
presentation of the additional vaccines (hib and/or Hep B) to cover those
children.
The problems highlighted by Robert are a direct result of "trying to run
before you can walk". If countries are allowed to introduce the new
vaccines in monovalent presentations then after a period of time it would
be possible to convert to combo vaccine without having to deny any new
child the new vaccines.
Incidentally 25% wastage will be very difficult to achieve in countries
where a large amount of immunisation is given through outreach and mobile
sessions, unless there is to be a change in the recommendation that no
opened vial that has been on outreach is kept after the end of the day,
single dose presentations are to be used.
Each country will have its own unique set of circumstances, the planning
for introducing the new vaccines must be carried out for each country
taking account of those circumstances.
Presumably there will have to be a monovalent presentation of Hep B for the
birth dose anyway. This also highlights the problem of giving 4 doses of
Hep B, if the combo vaccine is used. Because the first dose is
monovalent. We need to be a bit more sophisticated in our planning. It is
not acceptable to commit countries to the cost of an additional dose of Hep
B just to keep it simple.
To introduce new vaccines in a combination form will require a period when
the new vaccines are available in different presentations, if a programme
is not able to cope with that level of complexity then it is not ready to
extend its schedule.
Anthony
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3. ANNUAL TECHNET FORUM SUBSCRIBER SURVEY REMINDER
The TECHNET Internet Discussion Forum is an open technical discussion group
and a provides for the free exchange of information on logistics for health.
* We would appreciate your comments on the usefulness and the content of the
forum postings over the last year to enable us to improve the forum and to
support you in your work in logistics for health.
** The deadline for responding is Friday 12 October 2001.
* Please hit your reply button and then complete this questionnaire using
your email program.
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Thank you for replying and giving us your views on the forum and the forum's
usefulness.
regards and best wishes,
allan
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