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Background: Vaccinations in general are considered to be one of the greatest achievements in medicine, saving millions of lives globally. Aim: This narrative review highlights issues related to vaccination in pregnancy and provides information on those vaccines registered for use in pregnancy. Method: Published articles on vaccinations in pregnancy are included in this review. The search engines used included PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. Results: Vaccinations during pregnancy are more likely to be administered in high income countries (HICs) compared to low-income countries (LICs) due to easier access to healthcare services and better communicable disease awareness. Maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality rates associated with infectious diseases are higher in LICs with access to maternal care services, infrastructure and hospital equipment lacking in these settings. Conclusion: Suitable vaccinations are recommended for use in pregnancy to prevent harm to women, their foetuses and newborns from some communicable diseases, and they have resulted in declines in maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, this review has shown that vaccination during pregnancy is not only safe for both the woman and her foetus but also effective. Therefore, health professionals and national governments should strongly consider approved vaccinations prior to or during pregnancy.
Subject(s)
Pertussis Vaccine , Hepatitis B virus , Immunization , Vaccination , Meningococcal Vaccines , COVID-19 Vaccines , Risk Factors , Maternal HealthABSTRACT
@#We have effective vaccines against some of the common and dangerous infections in children. Most of these vaccines have a high safety profile. Vaccines available for routine immunisations belong to different categories. Live viral vaccines are highly effective and provides a good protective effect against the infections caused by those viruses. Conjugate and toxoid bacterial vaccines are also very effective. An overview of all the recommended childhood vaccines, along with their dosing schedule and specific contraindications are discussed. We have looked at situations where vaccinations should be delayed or avoided. Catch up vaccination recommendations for missed or delayed vaccinations are briefly discussed.
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BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver and causes both acute and chronic disease. It is transmitted through contact with an infected person's bodily fluids. It is an occupational hazard for healthcare workers and can be prevented by the administration of a vaccine. It is recommended that healthcare workers be vaccinated against vaccine preventable diseases including hepatitis B. The study objective was to determine the prevalence and determinants of hepatitis B vaccination among healthcare workers in selected health facilities in Lusaka. METHODS: The study took place in seven health facilities across Lusaka district in Zambia. A total sample size of 331 healthcare workers was selected of which; 90 were nurses, 88 were doctors, 86 were laboratory personnel and 67 were general workers. A self-administered structured questionnaire was given to a total of 331 healthcare workers. Investigator led stepwise approach was used to select the best predictor variables in a multiple logistic regression model and all analyses were performed using STATA software, version 12.1 SE (Stata Corporation, College Station, TX, USA). RESULTS: Only 64(19.3%) of the healthcare workers were vaccinated against hepatitis B, with 35 (54.7%) of these being fully vaccinated and 29 (45.3%) partially vaccinated. Analysis showed that; age of the healthcare worker, sharp injuries per year and training in infection control were the variables that were statistically significant in predicting a healthcare worker's vaccination status. CONCLUSION: It is reassuring to learn that healthcare workers have knowledge regarding hepatitis B and the vaccine and are willing to be vaccinated against it. Health institutions should bear the cost for vaccinating staff and efforts should be made for appropriate health education regarding hepatitis B infection and its prevention. Establishment of policies on compulsory hepatitis B vaccination for healthcare workers in Zambia is recommended.
Subject(s)
Humans , Chronic Disease , Delivery of Health Care , Health Education , Health Facilities , Hepatitis B , Hepatitis , Infection Control , Laboratory Personnel , Liver , Logistic Models , Prevalence , Research Personnel , Sample Size , Vaccination , ZambiaABSTRACT
Aim: To study the experience of Greek pediatricians with parents who refuse their children's vaccination and their attitudes towards vaccinations. Study Design: Nation-wide questionnaire-based survey conducted from February through May 2013. Methodology: We included 211 pediatricians. Results: A total of 190 (90%) pediatricians reported that they had encountered at least one case of parental vaccination refusal in the past. During 2012, the pediatricians faced a mean of 10.5 cases of vaccination refusals / 1000 vaccinations. The human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine was the most frequently refused vaccine, followed by the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. "Fear of adverse effects" was the most frequent reason of vaccination refusal (83.8%) followed by "Use of alternative medicine" (46.4%) and "Anti-vaccination belief against all vaccines" (45.3%). Internet was the most frequent source of information for parents who refused vaccination. Of 201 pediatricians, 135 (67.2%) stated that "Childhood vaccinations should be mandatory for primaryschool entry", while 28 (13.9%) stated that "Parents have the right to refuse their children's vaccinations". Lastly, 130 (61.6%) pediatricians stated that they had concerns about vaccines, mainly about their costs (46.2%). Conclusion: Refusal of vaccinations by parents is not frequent in Greece and concerns mainly the HPV and the MMR vaccines. Pediatricians should improve their ability to deal with this issue.
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Os cães são dependentes de seus proprietários para a determinação de seus cuidados gerais, saúde e bem-estar, incluindo a realização de vacinas contra doenças infecciosas. Para obter maiores informações sobre as práticas de vacinação realizadas em cães de uma amostra populacional da região sul do estado do Espírito Santo, realizou-se este estudo por meio de enquetes aplicadas a proprietários de cães desta região, totalizando 344 entrevistas.As análises estatísticas de frequência e correlação foram realizadas. A enquete foi constituída por perguntas referentes à realização de vacinação em cãese ciência dos protocolos vacinais pelos proprietários, além de levantar dados quanto ao custo da realização de vacinas, a abrangência das campanhas públicas de vacinação antirrábica e nível socioeconômico dos entrevistados. Pode-se concluir que a campanha pública de vacinação antirrábica é satisfatória, uma vez que a maior parte da população estava ciente e realizava a vacina antirrábica anualmente, independentemente do nível de escolaridade. Por outro lado, a vacina polivalente é realizada por menos da metade da população estudada, sendo que os proprietários eram mais informados do protocolo vacinal de filhotes do que do protocolo anual de revacinação para adultos. Os proprietários com maior nível de escolaridade são mais instruídos quanto ao protocolo vacinal de cães. A vacinação ainda é realizada, em partes, por profissionais não especializados. Para que as práticas de vacinação sejam realizadas adequadamente e garantam a proteção dos cães contra doenças infecciosas, deve-se realizar uma conscientização dos proprietários com relação aos protocolos corretos e à necessidade de aplicação de vacinas por médicos veterinários.
Dogs are dependent on their owners to determine their general care, health and welfare, including the holding of vaccines against infectious diseases. This study was performed to gather more information on immunization practices performed in dogs by surveying owners of the southern of Espírito Santo State, totalizing 344 interviews. Statistical analysis of frequency and correlation were performed. The survey consisted of questions regarding the implementation of vaccination in dogs and aware of vaccine protocols by the owners, and also collect data about the cost of performing vaccines, the coverage of public campaigns of rabies vaccination and socioeconomic status of respondents. It was concluded that public campaign of rabies vaccination is satisfactory, as the most respondents was aware and performed that vaccines annually, independent of schooling level. Nevertheless, polyvalent vaccination is performed by less than a half of studied population, and owners were more aware about vaccination protocol in puppies than in adult dogs. Vaccination is still performed, in part, by non-specialist. The awareness of owners regarding correct protocols and application of vaccines by veterinarians should be performed to guarantee the properly vaccination practices and ensure the protection of dogs against infectious diseases.
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Animals , Data Interpretation, Statistical , Vaccination/veterinary , Animal Welfare/ethics , DogsABSTRACT
This study aimed to determine knowledge and attitude of women to HPV and its association with cervical cancer and prevention methods. In a cross-sectional study, 500 women, aged between 20 and 50 presenting to local health centers in Tehran, were asked about demographic factors and questioned about cervical cancer, HPV, and prevention methods. Responses were tabulated and summarized. Although knowledge of HPV, its relation to cervical cancer and prevention methods among Iranian women is not enough, their attitude towards education in this regards is extremely high. The results reflect the need of advertising and educational programs for public about HPV prevention methods, to reduce the prevalence of this infection and its severe consequences.
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PURPOSE: Most of invasive Haemophilus influenzae diseases occur in children under 5 years of age, and are due almost exclusively to type b strain. Although antibodies to several surface antigens of H. influenzae play a role in conferring immunity, antibody to the type b capsular polysaccharide appeared to have the most important protective functions. However, the antibody response to vaccines or natural infections are quite differ according to the ages and ethnic groups. This study was performed to investigate the need of Hib vaccination and its appropriate time in Korean infants. METHODS: Three hundred and forty-five Korean infants and children who were relatively well without history of Hib vaccination or infection were enrolled in the study. All subjects did not receive blood transfusion or blood products and also had no any immunological abnormalities. Anti-PRP IgG was measured in the sera of subjects using ELISA. PRP-albumin was used as a coating antigen. RESULTS: Geometric mean titer (GMT) of anti-PRP IgG in the sera of neonates was 0.594 g/ml and was gradually decreased to 0.186 g/ml and 0.111 g/ml at 2 and 3 months of age, respectively. Ant-PRP IgG was significantly low after 3 months of age, and was gradually increased after 10 months of age. Anti-PRP IgG level p> or = 0.15 g/ml was observed in 70.8% (17/24) in neonatal group, 41.6% (10/24) and 18.7% (3/16) in 2 and 3 months of age. Only 8.7% (10/115) showed anti-Hib IgG levels of p> or = 1.0 g/ml, which has been considered as a level of longterm protection, was observed in 37.5% (9/24) in neonates, 12.5% (3/24) in 2 months of age and less then 10% thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that congenital passive immunity can be obtained enough in Korean infants and was rapidly decreased during the period of 3 months after birth. Hib vaccination will be recommended at early infancy (2 months of age) to provide appropriate antibodies in Korean children.