Immunisation Horizon Scanning Volume 3 Issue 2

Genital warts: NHS ‘must vaccinate’

Source: BBC News

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Date of publication: February 2011

Publication Type: News-Item

In a nutshell: The NHS vaccinates teenage girls against cervical cancer with the Cervarix vaccine. It offers good protection, but does not also protect against genital warts. In this week’s Scrubbing Up, two sexual health experts argue that if the vaccine used was changed to Gardasil, teenagers would also get protection from genital warts.

Length of publication: 1 page news-item

Modelling the impact of a combined varicella and zoster vaccination programme on the epidemiology of varicella zoster virus in England

Source: Vaccine, 2011 Jan 27. [Epub ahead of print]

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Date of publication: January 2011

Publication Type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: This study updates previous work on modelling the incidence of varicella and Herpes Zoster (HZ) following the introduction of childhood vaccination. The updated model includes new data on age-specific contact patterns, as well as data on the efficacy of zoster vaccination in the elderly and allows for HZ among vaccinees. The current study also looks at two-dose varicella childhood programmes, and assesses the combined impact of varicella vaccination in childhood and zoster vaccination of the elderly. The results suggest that a two-dose schedule is likely to reduce the incidence of varicella to very low levels, provided first dose coverage is around 90% and second dose coverage is in excess of 70%…

Length of publication: Unknown

Likely uptake of swine and seasonal flu vaccines among healthcare workers. A cross-sectional analysis of UK telephone survey data

Source: Vaccine, 2011 Jan 27. [Epub ahead of print]

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Date of publication: January 2011

Publication Type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: During the 2009 flu pandemic, all frontline UK healthcare workers were encouraged to have both the seasonal and swine flu vaccines. Analysis of six national telephone surveys conducted in the run-up to the UK’s swine flu vaccination campaign showed that NHS workers were no more likely to accept the swine flu vaccine than non-NHS workers (55.6% versus 52.4% respectively), although they were more likely to accept the seasonal flu vaccine (38.8% versus 22.6%). Reasons for non-acceptance were similar for both vaccines: low perceived personal benefits together with safety and efficacy concerns. Addressing these factors may improve uptake in future vaccination campaigns.

Length of publication: Unknown

Text message reminders to promote human papillomavirus vaccination

Source: Vaccine, 2011 Feb 4. [Epub ahead of print]

Follow this link for abstract

Date of publication: February 2011

Publication Type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: Objective: To implement and evaluate text message reminders for the second (HPV2) and third (HPV3) vaccine doses. Setting: Nine pediatric sites (5 academic and 4 private) located in New York City. Participants: Parents of adolescents 9–20 years who received HPV1 or HPV2 during the intervention period, January–June 2009. Intervention: Parents who enrolled received up to three weekly text message reminders that their daughter was due for her next vaccine dose. Outcome measure: On-time receipt of the next vaccine dose, within one month of its due date. Conclusion: Among those choosing to enroll, text message reminders were an effective intervention to increase on-time receipt of HPV2 or HPV3.

Length of publication: Unknown

Measles, mumps and rubella: a brief guide

Source: Practice Nursing, 22(2): 78 – 82 (Feb 2011)

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Date of publication: February 2011

Publication Type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: Gail Beckett reviews the epidemiology of measles, mumps and rubella in the UK and the impact on public health of the controversy over the MMR vaccine

Length of publication: 4-page article

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