 |
IVAC Leads Workshop at the Asian Vaccine Conference
IVAC led and participated in a number of activities at the Asian Vaccine Conference held earlier this month in Cebu, Philippines. Lois Privor-Dumm, IVAC's Director of Adult Vaccines, and IVAC Research Associate Sheri Morgan coordinated and presented multiple sessions, including a workshop co-hosted with the Asian Development Bank, Pandemic Vaccines & Vaccinations: Lessons Learned and Investments for Pandemic Readiness in Asia and the Pacific. This workshop was an opportunity for representatives from both low- and middle-income countries as well as higher-income countries to exchange best practices and challenges for COVID-19 vaccine delivery. Participants then identified opportunities for investment to strengthen vaccine systems and improve preparedness for pandemic vaccine delivery. Lois also participated in an EPI managers' meeting, attended a vaccinology course, and gave the closing keynote talk on Renewing the Vaxx PACT: Boosting Vaccine Confidence.
Prior to the conference, IVAC collaborated with Digital Pilipinas and long-time IVAC collaborator Dr. Lulu Bravo to lead an advocacy discussion and help advance public-private digital innovations addressing Filipino public health priorities including dengue, influenza, and malaria. Read more in Whats Happening Manila. |
|
 |
Register for "Exploring the Forefront of Digital Visualization Platforms: Women, Children, and Health"
Join us for an interactive session on newly available digital health platforms designed to help disseminate population health data for increased stakeholder accountability and global health sustainability. Presenters will discuss these digital tools from UNICEF, Countdown to 2030, WHO, and the Global Financing Facility, along with their lessons learned and how to prioritize audience members, foster comparability between geographies, engage users, and assess impact. |
|
[Recording] World Pneumonia Day 2023: The Latest Life-Saving Approaches
Despite global efforts to increase access to life-saving pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, pneumonia remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children under 5. In recognition of World Pneumonia Day 2023 earlier this month, IVAC brought together experts from a range of disciplines to discuss novel tools and strategies to protect children everywhere against this deadly disease. |
|
|
| Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week
World AMR Awareness Week, held earlier this month, is an annual campaign to raise global awareness and understanding about antimicrobial resistance (AMR). At least 700,000 people die each year due to drug-resistant infections, and that number is expected to rise over time. Vaccines are an important tool to fight AMR as they reduce the transmission of many life-threatening diseases and protect children from infection, thereby reducing the need for antibiotic medications which can contribute to AMR. Read more about how vaccines can combat AMR in an Evidence Brief from IVAC’s Value of Immunization Compendium of Evidence (VoICE).
|
 |
|
| World Toilet Day: Don't Stall
Our partners at DefeatDD led a campaign this month to recognize World Toilet Day, bringing awareness to the need for global access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and promoting an integrated approach to the basic building blocks of child health.
One of the most common causes of severe and fatal diarrhea among children under age 5 is rotavirus. Despite the availability of safe, effective rotavirus vaccines, the disease continues to kill nearly half a million children each year and hospitalizes millions more. Several diarrhea-related indicators, including rotavirus vaccine coverage, are highlighted in IVAC's annual Pneumonia & Diarrhea Progress Report (PDPR).
|
|
|
Healthcare Provider Perspectives on COVID-19 Vaccination for Children in India [BMJ Paediatrics Open]
Authors include Kayur Mehta, Preetika Banerjee, and Anita Shet
The authors conducted an online survey that was disseminated to eligible participants via email, text messages, and social media platforms across India. The survey aimed to gather the perspectives of Indian healthcare providers regarding key factors related to the rollout of pediatric COVID-19 vaccines. Most respondents were in support of COVID-19 pediatric vaccination, although just over half did not feel adequately informed. Researchers concluded that targeted interventions are needed to provide accurate information to healthcare providers and to disseminate evidence-based public health messaging to reduce vaccine hesitancy among caregivers. |
|
|
Breaking the Silence on Gendered Harassment and Assault of Community Health Workers: An Analysis of Ethnographic Studies [BMJ Global Health]
Authors include Svea Closser
This paper explores how gender roles and a lack of formal worker protections leave female community health workers (CHWs) vulnerable to violence and sexual harassment, common occurrences that are frequently downplayed or silenced. CHW programs creates job opportunities for women in contexts where such opportunities are extremely rare, and these jobs can be a lifeline for women with few other options. However, the threat of violence can be very real, as women may face violence from the community or may experience harassment from supervisors within health programs. This study provides examples of these issues and sets forth action and research agendas to address them. |
|
|
Leveling the Research Playing Field: Decolonizing Global Health Research Through Web-Based Platforms [Journal of Medical Internet Research]
Authors include Baldeep K Dhaliwal, Emily Miller, and Anita Shet
The Community Health Worker-Led Intervention for Vaccine Information and Confidence (CIVIC) Project, conducted in India and led jointly by India- and US-based investigators, leveraged web-based platforms to facilitate a more horizontal, inclusive, and balanced approach to partnerships between researchers and the community. Using web-based platforms to conduct research was found to be an effective strategy to engage researchers at all levels and combat systemic barriers associated with in-person activities such as power, economic, social, and gender dynamics. Harnessing web-based approaches in research provides a pathway toward opportunities to promote equity and contribute to the decolonization of global health spaces. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
