Measles: A tale of birth cohorts and herd immunity
February 12, 2015Source: Practice Nursing, 2014, 25 (12,) pp 611–614
Date of publication: December 2014
Publication Type: Journal Article
In a nutshell: Sarah Lang reviews the effect of measles infection and the impact of measles vaccination since its introduction in the UK in 1988. She discusses the implications for practice nurses and requirements for practice.
Length of publication:
Promoting vaccination
February 12, 2015Source: Practice Nursing, 2015, 26 (1), pp 5–5
Date of publication: January 2015
Publication Type: Editorial
In a nutshell: The recent publication of the MBRRACE-UK report 2009–2012 (Knight et al, 2014) into maternal deaths in the UK and Ireland has provided a reminder of the importance of the influenza vaccination programme for pregnant women. Although the maternal mortality rate has declined overall, it was found that 29 women died of influenza during pregnancy or up to 6 weeks after giving birth. Worryingly, 62% of these deaths occurred after the vaccine became universally available in pregnancy—suggesting that they could have been prevented if the vaccine had been given.
Length of publication: 1 page editorial
Vaccination uptake in pregnant women
February 12, 2015Source: Practice Nursing, 2015, 26 (2), pp 84–87
Date of publication: January 2015
Publication Type: Journal Article
In a nutshell: Vaccination in pregnancy is safe and effective, but the rate of uptake is much lower than recommended. Helen Sisson encourages health professionals to continue vaccinating with confidence.
Length of publication: 4-page article
Next winter’s flu vaccine may not be effective, concedes researcher
February 11, 2015Source: The Guardian
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Date of publication: February 2015
Publication Type: News
In a nutshell: Scientists cannot be sure that next year’s flu vaccine will protect people against the strains that will be circulating in the coming winter, because the decision as to which ones to include has to be made within the next few w
Public health officials knew months ago about UK flu vaccine mismatch
February 11, 2015Source: The Guardian
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Date of publication: February 2015
Publication Type: News
In a nutshell: Public health officials have conceded that they have been aware for months that the current flu vaccine provides almost no protection against the main strain spreading around the UK.
Flu vaccine ‘barely effective’ against main viral strain
February 11, 2015Source: BBC News
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Date of publication: February 2015
Publication Type: News
In a nutshell: This year’s seasonal flu vaccine is barely able to protect people from the main strain of flu being spread in the UK, health officials say.