Immunisation Horizon Scanning Volume 4 Issue 1

Warts and all at last: HPV vaccination

Source: British Medical Journal, 2011;343:d7779

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Date of publication: 30th November 2011

Publication Type: Observation

In a nutshell: Health campaigning, like much of public health, can be a slow, repetitive business. The media will break a big story once and then tend to lose interest unless a fresh scandal surfaces. But to change culture, opinion, or behaviour the same message may have to be drip fed over many years. And if the story doesn’t lend itself to a cute front page photo the chance of success is remote. Genital warts will never make the headlines in the Daily Mail or indeed any other newspaper—which makes the government’s decision to switch to a multipurpose vaccine against human papillomavirus all the more remarkable.

Length of publication: 1-page observation

UK parents’ decision-making about measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine 10 years after the MMR-autism controversy: a qualitative analysis

Source: Vaccine, 2012, doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.12.127

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Date of publication:8th January 2012

Publication Type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: This study corroborated some previous qualitative work but indicated that the shrinking group of parents now rejecting MMR comprises those with more extreme and complex anti-immunisation views, whilst parents opting for single vaccines may use second-hand information about the controversy. In reponse policy makers and practitioners should revise their expectations of today’s MMR decision-makers, and their methods for supporting them.

Length of publication: Unknown

Impact of rotavirus vaccination on epidemiological dynamics in England and Wales

Source: Vaccine, 2011, 3 (11) p. 552-564

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Date of publication: 28th November 2011

Publication Type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: This paper uses a dynamic model to predict the effect of a mass vaccination program in England and Wales beginning in the fall of 2011. We report the impact of vaccination, in both short-and long-term, on disease incidence reducation, timing of seasonal epidemics and the level of herd protection. Our results predict that vaccination can reduce the burden of severe RVGE by 70% and delay the rotavirus epidemic peak by two and a half months with a coverage of 95%.

Length of publication: 13-page article

UK will use Gardasil in its HPV vaccination programme from next September

Source: British Medical Journal, 2011;343:d7694

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Date of publication: 25th November 2011

Publication Type: News Item

In a nutshell: From next September girls in the United Kingdom being vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV) will receive Gardasil, the vaccine that protects against genital warts as well as cervical cancer.
Length of publication: 1-page news bulletin

Acceptability and response to a postal survey using self-taken samples for HPV vaccine impact monitoring

Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2011, 87 p. 548-552

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Date of publication: 11th October 2011

Publication Type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: To assess the feasibility and acceptance of a postal survey to measure human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and monitor vaccine impact, using self-taken specimens from young women who do not attend their first cervical screening appointment. Some women were willing to participate in anonymised postal testing. However, the low uptake means that HPV prevalence results are difficult to interpret for ongoing surveillance. Monitoring HPV vaccine impact outwith the cervical screening programme remains challenging.

Length of publication: 5-page article

Factors associated with uptake of seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccine among clinical risk groups in the UK: an analysis using the General Practice Research Database

Source: Vaccine, 2011, doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.11.077

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Date of publication: 29th November 2011

Publication Type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: This study sought to estimate uptake rates of pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccines among clinical risk groups in the UK during the 2009/2010 influenza season and to identify predictors of vaccine uptake in this cohort. Recommending universal vaccination within age categories in which there is a large proportion of high risk individuals could be considered as this may result in higher uptake among clinical risk groups.

Length of publication: Unknown

Estimating the clinical impact of introducing paediatric influenza vaccination in England and Wales

Source: Vaccine, 2011, doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.11.106

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Date of publication: 13th December 2011

Publication Type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: Influenza causes a significant burden of disease each year in England and Wales, with the young and the elderly suffering the greatest burden. Children are recognised as paying an important role in the dissemination of the influenza virus. This study examines the population impact of implementing a programme of paediatric vaccinaiton.

Length of publication: Unknown

Morning flu jabs ‘work better for men’

Source: BBC News

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Date of publication: December 2011

Publication Type: News Item

In a nutshell: Flu jabs can be made more effective by changing the time of day they are given – mornings for men and afternoons for women are best – scientists believe.

Length of publication: 1 page news-item

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