Effectiveness of a mass immunization campaign against serogroup C meningococci in children in the federal state of Santa Catarina, Brazil

In addition to vaccine efficacy studies, there is a pressing need to evaluate vaccine effectiveness in a way that takes into account the limitations of health care systems in certain settings. An attempt to reach this objective was exemplified by a vaccination campaign against serogroup C meningococci in the federal state of Santa Catarina, in Brazil. A polysaccharide vaccine against serogroup C meningococci was administered to all individuals between 6 months and 14 years of age in March, 1996, in the municipalities that had the highest incidence of meningococcal disease in the previous year. All cases of the disease due to this serogroup observed in Santa Catarina during a 1-year period before and after the vaccination were included in the analysis. The cumulative incidence rate ratio was calculated for the unvaccinated compared to the vaccinated area. As a second step, the ratio of this quantity for the period before and after the vaccination, i.e. the ratio of the rate ratios (RRR), was calculated. One minus RRR was used to estimate the vaccine effectiveness. In the general population, the vaccine effectiveness was 74.3 (95 confidence intervals 52.7 to 99.6). In children 6 months to 14 years, vaccine effectiveness was 93.1 (85.2 to 100). Vaccine effectiveness could not be confirmed within more specific age bands, probably due to the lack of statistical power. It is concluded that group C meningococcal vaccine is effective in reducing the occurrence of meningococcal disease in children 6 months to 14 years of age, and that the ratio of rate ratios (RRR) in a useful method to evaluate vaccine effectiveness.

Formação de recursos humanos em sistema de rede: uma constribuição SUS / Human resources formation within a network system: a contribution to SUS

A formação de recursos humanos, na maneira tradicional de ensino, é desenvolvida sob a lógica de uma instituição que necessita cumprir os requerimentos legais da sua sociedade. No contexto do projeto auxiliar de enfermagem da UFSC, a lógica é construída a partir da concepção da rede, já que nenhuma instituição de modo isolado, responde as exigências da sociedade no que se refere a saúde. ôo estágio desejável no futuro da enfermagem é que ela conquiste sua profissionalização , evitando que pessoas não habilitadas exerçam ilegalmente e sem habilidades e conhecimentos requeridos (Souza, 1998). Esta visão remete à ação coletiva, onde entidades de assistência e de ensino se articulam com entidades de classe e façam frente a realidade. O processo de articular-se para superar déficits torna-se possível pela adoção de sistemas de redes, onde cada um investe fortalezas e necessidades, construindo um caminho de viabilidade, com indicadores de avaliação explícitos.

Human resources formation, as conducted in the traditional was of teaching, is carried out under the logical views of an institution bound to fulfill all legal requirements of its society. Within the context of the nursing auxiliary project at the UFSC, the logical pictures is built from a network conception, as no single institution by itself would be able to satisfy the demands imposed by society on the field of health. ôThe desirable stage in the future of nursing is the conquest of its full professional status, preventing non-qualified person from illegally exercising it, persons lacking the required skills and knowledge (Souza, 1998). Such a point of view asks for collective action, where assistance and teaching entities unite deficits becomes feasible by adhering to network system where each participants puts out to interest strengths as well as needs, buildings up a way of feasibility, and offering unreserved markers of evolution.

La formación de recursos humanos, en la manera tradicional de enseñanza, es desenvolvida sobre la lógica de una institución que necesita cumplir com los requerimientos legales de la sociedad. En el contexto del proyecto auxiliar de enfermería de la UFSC, la lógica es construida a partir de la concepción de Red, ya que ninguna institución de modo aislado, responde a las exigencias de la sociedad en lo que se refiere a salud. ôEl estado deseable del futuro de la enfermería es que ella conquiste su profesionalización, evitando que las personas no habilitadas ejerzan ilegalmente y sin las habilidades y conocimientos requeridos (Souza, 1998). Esta visión remite a la acción colectiva, donde entidades de asistencia y enseñanza se articulan con las entidades de clase y enfrentan la realidad. El proceso de articularse para superar déficit se torna posible por la adopción de sistemas de redes, donde cada uno invierte fortalezas e necesidades, construyendo un camino de viabilidad, con indicadores de evaluación explícitos.