POST 00875E : ARTICLES OF INTEREST 8 January 2006
_____________________________________
This posting contains links to two quite interesting articles, both hosted
on our site to facilitate access. The first "Cervical Cancer, Human
Papillomavirus and Vaccination" by Catherine M. Lowndes and O. Noel Gill,
is an editorial reproduced from the British Medical Journal, published in
its October 2005 edition. In conclusion, "vaccines work, but we need more
information before widespread immunisation". Thanks to Robert Davis and
Evelyn Chege, from UNICEF/ESARO, for having sent it to us. The direct
access link is:
http://www.technet21.org/PapillomaVaccine.doc
The second article, from our colleagues David B. Hipgrave, James E. Maynard
and Beverley-Ann Biggs, "Improving birth dose coverage of hepatitis B
vaccine", has just been published in the Bulletin of the World Health
Organization in its last issue of January 2006. We reproduce the abstract
below, and the link to the full article is
:
http://www.technet21.org/pdf_file/Impro ... geHepB.pdf
"Administration of a birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine (HepB vaccine) to
neonates is recommended to prevent mother-to-infant transmission and
chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Although manufacturers
recommend HepB vaccine distribution and storage at 2–8 °C, recognition of
the heat stability of hepatitis B surface antigen stimulated research into
its use after storage at, or exposure to, ambient or high temperatures.
Storage of HepB vaccine at ambient temperatures would enable birth dosing
for neonates delivered at home in remote areas or at health posts lacking
refrigeration. This article reviews the current evidence on the
thermostability of HepB vaccine when stored outside the cold chain (OCC).
The reports reviewed show that the vaccines studied were safe and effective
whether stored cold or OCC. Field and laboratory data also verifies the
retained potency of the vaccine after exposure to heat. The attachment of a
highly stable variety of a vaccine vial monitor (measuring cumulative
exposure to heat) on many HepB vaccines strongly supports policies allowing
their storage OCC, when this will benefit birth dose coverage. We recommend
that this strategy be introduced to improve birth dose coverage, especially
in rural and remote areas. Concurrent monitoring and evaluation should be
undertaken to affirm the safe implementation of this strategy, and assess
its cost, feasibility and effect on reducing HBV infection rates.
Meanwhile, release of manufacturer data verifying the potency of currently
available HepB vaccines after exposure to heat will increase confidence in
the use of vaccine vial monitors as a managerial tool during storage of
HepB vaccine OCC."
Both articles have been added to the list of various articles and
background documents accessible through the "Reference Documents" page of
the TechNet21 site.
______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________
Visit the TECHNET21 Website at
http://www.technet21.org
You will find instructions to subscribe, a direct access to archives, links to reference documents and other features.
______________________________________________________________________________
To UNSUBSCRIBE, send a message to : mailto:
[email protected]
Leave the subject area BLANK
In the message body, write unsubscribe TECHNET21E
______________________________________________________________________________
The World Health Organization and UNICEF support TechNet21. The TechNet21 e-Forum is a communication/information tool for generation of ideas on how to improve immunization services. It is moderated by Claude Letarte and is hosted in cooperation with the Centre de coopération internationale en santé et développement, Québec, Canada (
http://www.ccisd.org)
______________________________________________________________________________