Background

In Canadian adults aged ≥65, routine pneumococcal-polysaccharide-vaccine (PPV23) use has been recommended for several decades, and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) on an individual basis - since 2016. When PCV13 is administered, sequential PPV23 is recommended to broaden serotype coverage.

We aimed to assess the proportion of PCV13-, PPV23/non13-, PCV15-, and PCV20-type IPD among Canadian older adults.

Methods

Proportions of IPD due to PCV13, PPV23/non13, PCV15 and PCV20 serotypes were calculated from case counts reported, by serotype and age group, from the National Microbiology Laboratory between 2010 and 2017.

Results

Among all IPD, the contribution of PCV13-type declined from 50% (487/967) to 23% (287/1,238). PPV23/non13-type IPD increased from 25% (240/967) to 39% (487/1,238). In 2017, IPD proportions due to PCV15- and PCV20-types were 36% (447/1,238) and 52% (646/1,238) (Figure 1).

Conclusions

Despite routine PPV23 program, increasing trend in cases and proportions of PPV23/non13-type IPD was noted during the observation period. Initial decline in PCV13-type IPD, likely an indirect effect of pediatric program, leveled off in recent years supporting the need for broad PCV13 use in older adults. PCV20, which shares 19 serotypes with PPV23, could address limitations of the PPV23 program in the ability to control vaccine-type IPD.

Background

Acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRIs) is a leading cause of illness and death among children under-five, with Nigeria having a higher number of mortality due to this disease.

Methods

A case-control design was employed for this study. One hundred under five children each with ALRI (cases) and 100 without any form of ALRI (controls) were selected from hospitals in Ibadan. A pre-tested three section questionnaire was administered to mothers to obtain information’s.
Data collected was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences version 21. Results was presented has mean, frequencies and percentages.

Results

Mean age among the group studied was 32.14±7.01 years for cases and 32.85±5.83 years for controls (p=>0.05). The mean knowledge score for ALRI mode of transmission and symptoms among the case population was 18.25±20.08 compared to 4.59±11.49 among the control population (p=<0.005). The mean knowledge score for indoor microbiome among cases was 6.08±5.59 compared to 3.10±3.40 among the controls (p=<0.005).

Conclusions

Results revealed poor knowledge of ALRI, Mode of Transmission, Symptoms and indoor microbiome among the group studied. To mitigate the menace of under-five mortality due to acute lower respiratory tract infections, a lot of awareness on the causes and prevention of this deadly disease need to be created.

Background

In 2015, Pneumococcus caused 317,000 childhood deaths globally, of which 68700 (23%) are from India. India started phased introduction of PCV in 2017 and expanded to 47% birth cohort by 2020. This paper documents the key lessons learnt from PCV roll-out in India.

Methods

Desk review was conducted using implementation documents, coverage reports and monitoring data. Key stakeholders were interviewed, followed by a thematic analysis to identify the roll-out and system-strengthening activities.

Results

Competing priorities of MR campaign, Rota scale-up and Mission Indradhanush called for synergistic planning for PCV roll-out. A 2p+1 dose schedule at 6^th week, 14^th week and 9^th month, with the partial provincial introduction, posed the challenge of high drop-out in this vast country with internal migration. Adding another injection challenged provider and care-giver compliance.

Leveraging country-wide polio assets was key to the timely PCV roll-out. Self-reporting system-assessment tools prompted the states to preparatory actions. Adult learning methods in cascaded trainings oriented the workforce. Positive communication approach, online tracking of supplies and mobile-based real-time monitoring helped the most phase 1 and 2 districts reach >80% PCV1 coverage with slower PCV-booster uptake.

Conclusions

PCV introduction in India seized the opportunity to strengthen system, for sustaining high coverage.

Background

Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) in children under the age of 5 are a public health problem In Côte d'Ivoire. The objective of this study is to help reduce the incidence of ARI in children under 5 in 3 health areas in Dimbokro.

Methods

It was a survey Knowledge Attitudes and Practices (KAP) about the members from 28 villages in 3 health areas in 2017 and 2019.

The heads of households selected according to a simple random sampling. Communities sensitized on public health problems.

Results

The sample was 630 households, the sex ratio 1.2. The average age of 48. Children 0-5 years old made up 18.2% of the population. In 2017, only 3.6% of women knew the risk factors for ARI compared to 76.9% in 2019. 23 % of household heads knew the signs in 2017 compared to 76.8% in 2019. At the end of the study, 78,6% of people knew the means of preventing ARI. Vaccination status increased to 85.6% in children 0-23 months of age. 76.3% of mothers practiced exclusive breastfeeding.

Conclusions

Good practices have reduced the incidence of ARI from 30% to 14.9% from 2017 to 2019.

Background

In 2013, Lao PDR introduced PCV13 with Gavi support. WHO requested a PCV13 impact evaluation as the Ministry of Health required evidence of PCV13 impact. Our project included a variety of community and hospital-based carriage and disease studies.

Methods

We partnered with Lao Ministry of Health and WHO, the key end-users, from the outset. We performed high quality research by collaborating with established international research institutions in Laos, the Lao Oxford Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit (LOMWRU) and the leading Lao medical university, The University of Health Sciences, to undertake the research. We developed an infographic and a video of the results.

Results

We disseminated our results to immunisation policy makers at the Lao Ministry of Health, WHO (Laos office and Geneva) and our funders, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Our results were presented to the Lao paediatricians and NITAG members; and at various local, regional and international conferences. The Laos Minister of Health presented the findings to the Gavi Board. The video and infographic were launched on social media and hosted on our institutions’ (MCRI and University of Melbourne) webpage, to coincide with World Pneumonia Day.

Conclusions

This multipronged approach ensured wide dissemination of findings.