Joseph Little

Pioneer Contributor Specialist (2)

 Using freeze-preventive cold boxes in rural Nepal: A study of equipment performance, acceptability, system fit, and cost
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 Evaluation of energy harvest control systems used with solar direct drive vaccine refrigerators and freezers in Senegal...

 Investigating cold-chain system and efficacy of vaccines reaching the end user in Turkey and related regulations...

 Cold chain study: danger of freezing vaccines...

 Hepatitis B vaccine...

 Hepatitis B vaccine in healthy hospital employees...

 Use of cool water packs to prevent freezing during vaccine transportation at the country level...

 Is freezing in the vaccine cold chain an ongoing issue? A literature review...

 Products obtained during combustion of polymers under simulated incinerator conditions: II. Polystyrene...

 Frequent exposure to suboptimal temperatures in vaccine cold-chain system in India: results of temperature monitoring in 10 states...

 Comparison of hepatitis B vaccine coverage and effectiveness among urban and rural Mongolian 2-year-olds...

 Performance and potency of tetanus toxoid: implications for eliminating neonatal tetanus
Neonatal tetanus (NT) is a major cause of mortality in developing countries, with over 400,000 deaths estimated to occur annually. WHO has adopted the goal of eliminating NT worldwide, and a major strategy for its prevention is the administration of at least two properly spaced doses of tetanus toxoid (TT) to women of childbearing age in high-risk areas to protect passively their newborns at birth. In certain countries the locally produced TT vaccine has been shown to be subpotent, while other countries have reported NT among infants born to vaccinated women. An extensive review of production and quality control procedures was carried out between 1993 and 1995 in 8 of 22 TT-producing countries that also report NT cases, with a more superficial assessment being carried out in the remaining 14 countries. Only 4 of the 22 countries have a functioning national control authority to monitor TT production and vaccine quality. A total of 80 TT lots from 21 manufacturers in 14 of the 22 NT-reporting countries were tested for potency. Of these, 15 lots from eight manufacturers in seven countries had potency values below WHO requirements. TT potency can also be compromised by improper vaccine handling. To eliminate neonatal tetanus worldwide requires assurance that all doses of TT meet WHO production and quality requirements and that the field effectiveness of TT is monitored through systematic NT case investigations and assessment of coverage.
PIP:
Neonatal tetanus (NT) causes an estimated 400,000 deaths annually in developing countries. One major way to prevent NT is to administer at least two properly spaced doses of tetanus toxoid (TT) to women of childbearing age in high-risk areas in order to passively protect their newborns at birth. However, locally-produced TT vaccine in some countries has been found to be subpotent, while other countries have reported NT among infants born to vaccinated women. An extensive review of production and quality control procedures was conducted between 1993 and 1995 in 8 of 22 TT-producing countries which also report NT cases. A less exhaustive examination was conducted in the other 14 countries. Among the 22 countries which both report NT cases and produce TT, only Brazil, India, Indonesia, and Mexico have fully functioning national control authorities to monitor TT production and vaccine quality. 80 TT lots from 21 manufacturers in 14 of the 22 countries were tested for potency. 15 lots from 8 manufacturers in 7 countries had potency values below World Health Organization (WHO) requirements. TT potency can also be compromised by improper vaccine handling. If NT is going to be eliminated worldwide, all doses of TT must meet WHO production and quality requirements. Moreover, the field effectiveness of TT must be monitored through systematic NT case investigations and the assessment of coverage.
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 Storage at -3 degrees C for 24 h alters the immunogenicity of pertussis vaccines...

 Physical, chemical and immunological stability of CHO-derived hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) particles...