POST 00875E : ARTICLES OF INTEREST

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) ______________________________________________________________________________