Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Annette K. Regan, Alice Fiddian-Green
Summary: Influenza vaccination during pregnancy is important for both mothers and infants, but hesitancy remains common due to various factors. While some interventions have shown promising results, overall vaccination rates need to be improved.
HUMAN VACCINES & IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Christine Elizabeth Jones, Anna Calvert, Jo Southern, Mary Matheson, Nick Andrews, Asma Khalil, Hannah Cuthbertson, Bassam Hallis, Anna England, Paul T. Heath, Elizabeth Miller
Summary: The study found no significant difference in anti-pertussis IgG concentrations in infants born to mothers vaccinated with TdaP(5)-IPV or TdaP(3)-IPV. However, infants born to unvaccinated mothers had lower anti-pertussis toxin IgG concentrations, which normalized by 13 months of age.
Article
Immunology
Hanif Shaikh, Pranesha Koli, Vaishali Undale, Anil Pardeshi, Mahesh Asalkar, Sushant Sahastrabuddhe, Anand Kawade, Chandrashekhar Upasani
Summary: Unvaccinated pregnant women in India have a higher risk of negative birth outcomes, and influenza vaccination during pregnancy is shown to be safe and may lower this risk.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Francesca Licata, Concetta Paola Pelullo, Giorgia Della Polla, Emma Antonia Citrino, Aida Bianco
Summary: This study investigated the practices, knowledge, and attitudes of Italian healthcare workers (HCWs) regarding influenza vaccination during pregnancy. The findings revealed that a significant number of HCWs had misconceptions about the risks of vaccines and lacked up-to-date knowledge. These findings are valuable for promoting evidence-based recommendations among HCWs.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ravneet Kaur, Timothy Callaghan, Annette K. Regan
Summary: Pregnant women and their infants are at high risk of influenza, but immunization rates remain low in the U.S. Rural-residing women have lower vaccination rates compared to urban women, with the greatest disparities observed among Hispanic women and those without health insurance. Efforts are needed to understand and overcome barriers to maternal immunization in order to prevent health disparities.
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Dana M. Gates, Steven A. Cohen, Kelly Orr, Aisling R. Caffrey
Summary: The study evaluated trends in pharmacist-administered pediatric influenza vaccination rates in the United States, finding low utilization rates with regional variations. Improving accessibility to pediatric vaccination may increase overall vaccination rates.
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Eleonora Brillo, Valentina Tosto, Irene Giardina, Ersilia Buonomo
Summary: Maternal immunization, including Tdap and influenza vaccines during pregnancy, is important for protecting both mothers and infants. However, low vaccination coverage rates and limited evidence of effectiveness show the need for further research to optimize vaccination timing and confirm efficacy.
JOURNAL OF MATERNAL-FETAL & NEONATAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Yisheng Song, Jinjin Shao, Guangbiao She, Wanqiang Lv, Guoyu Chen, Jing Liu, Lili Zhang, Chengda Zhang, Jiahong Wang, Ruiyu Tian, Lianpan Dai, George F. Gao, Enqi Huang, Lijiang Zhang
Summary: ZF2001, a protein subunit vaccine, has been found to have no adverse effects on fertility, embryo-fetal development, and postnatal developmental toxicity in rats. The vaccine can be considered safe for use in clinical trials and maternal immunization campaigns.
Article
Immunology
Blanche Oguti, Asad Ali, Nick Andrews, Daan Barug, Duc Anh Dang, Scott A. Halperin, Ha Thi Thu Hoang, Beth Holder, Beate Kampmann, Abdul M. Kazi, Joanne M. Langley, Elke Leuridan, Naomi Madavan, Kirsten Maertens, Herberth Maldonado, Elizabeth Miller, Flor M. Munoz-Rivas, Saad B. Omer, Andrew J. Pollard, Thomas F. Rice, Nynke Rots, Maria E. Sundaram, Nasamon Wanlapakorn, Merryn Voysey
Summary: This study aimed to calculate the half-lives of passively acquired diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis antibodies in infants. The decay rates of maternal antibodies were found to vary for different antigens but were not significantly influenced by demographic or vaccine characteristics.
Article
Immunology
Zourab Bebia, Osvaldo Reyes, Robert Jeanfreau, Anu Kantele, Ruth Graciela De Leon, Marta Garcia Sanchez, Peyman Banooni, Glenn J. Gardener, Jose Luis Bartha Rasero, Maria Begona Encinas Pardilla, Joanne M. Langley, Claudio Maanon Di Leo, Elisabeth Botelho-Nevers, Jim Buttery, Helene Laurichesse, Shabir A. Madhi, Adrian Martin Garcia, Thorsten Stanley, Tiphaine Barjat, Rebecca Griffith, Maria Mercedes Castrejon-Alba, Magali de Heusch, Ilse Dieussaert, Melanie Hercor, Patricia Lese, Hui Qian, Antonella N. Tullio, Ouzama Henry
Summary: Maternal vaccination with RSVPreF3 during late pregnancy has an acceptable safety risk profile and induces robust RSV-specific immune responses with successful antibody transfer to newborns.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sonia Dhaouadi, Ghassen Kharroubi, Amal Cherif, Ines Cherif, Hind Bouguerra, Leila Bouabid, Nourhene Najar, Adel Gharbi, Afif Ben Salah, Nissaf Bouafif ep Ben Alaya, Jihene Bettaieb
Summary: This study aimed to assess the uptake and acceptability of influenza vaccine among pregnant women in Tunisia. The findings revealed low vaccination rates during current pregnancy, but a willingness to receive the vaccine in future pregnancies. Recommendations from healthcare providers were identified as the most trusted source of information.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shaofeng Deng, Ying Liu, Rachel Chun-Yee Tam, Pin Chen, Anna Jinxia Zhang, Bobo Wing-Yee Mok, Teng Long, Anja Kukic, Runhong Zhou, Haoran Xu, Wenjun Song, Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan, Kelvin Kai-Wang To, Zhiwei Chen, Kwok-Yung Yuen, Pui Wang, Honglin Chen
Summary: Current available vaccines for COVID-19 are effective in reducing severe diseases and deaths caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection but less optimal in preventing infection. Next-generation vaccines which are able to induce mucosal immunity in the upper respiratory to prevent or reduce infections caused by highly transmissible variants of SARS-CoV-2 are urgently needed. We have developed an intranasal vaccine candidate based on a live attenuated influenza virus (LAIV) with a deleted NS1 gene that encodes cell surface expression of the receptor-binding-domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, designated DelNS1-RBD4N-DAF. Immune responses and protection against virus challenge following intranasal administration of DelNS1-RBD4N-DAF vaccines were analyzed in mice and compared with intramuscular injection of the BioNTech BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in hamsters. DelNS1-RBD4N-DAF LAIVs induced high levels of neutralizing antibodies against various SARS-CoV-2 variants in mice and hamsters and stimulated robust T cell responses in mice. Notably, vaccination with DelNS1-RBD4N-DAF LAIVs, but not BNT162b2 mRNA, prevented replication of SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Delta and Omicron BA.2, in the respiratory tissues of animals. The DelNS1-RBD4N-DAF LAIV system warrants further evaluation in humans for the control of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and, more significantly, for creating dual function vaccines against both influenza and COVID-19 for use in annual vaccination strategies.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Anna N. Chard, Francisco Nogareda, Annette K. Regan, Marta Fernanda Olivares Barraza, Rodrigo A. Fasce, Natalia Vergara, Marcela Avendano, Elena Penayo, Cynthia Vazquez, Marta Von Horoch, Fabiana Michel, Adriana Alfonso, Cristina Mogdasy, Hector Chiparelli, Natalia Goni, Miguel Alegretti, Sergio Loayza, Paula Couto, Angel Rodriguez, Daniel Salas, Ashley L. Fowlkes, Eduardo Azziz-Baumgartner
Summary: This study estimated the vaccine effectiveness (VE) against severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) hospitalization in Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay during the 2022 influenza season. The results showed that the VE against any influenza-associated SARI hospitalization was 33.8%, and the VE against influenza A(H3N2)-associated SARI hospitalization was 30.4%. VE estimates were similar across target populations.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Jessica R. Cataldi, Laura P. Hurley, Megan C. Lindley, Sean T. O'Leary, Carol Gorman, Michaela Brtnikova, Brenda L. Beaty, Lori A. Crane, David K. Shay, Allison Kempe
Summary: The study examined family physicians' and general internal medicine physicians' perceptions, knowledge, and practices regarding high-dose inactivated influenza vaccine (HD-IIV) and live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV). Many physicians believed HD-IIV is more effective for patients >= 65 years, and there was a misconception that ACIP had preferential recommendations for HD-IIV.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Hannah K. Peng, Kevin J. Dombkowski, Gary L. Freed, Susan E. Creary, Dominic Smith, Sarah L. Reeves
Summary: Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) had higher annual flu immunization rates than those without SCD, but over 50% remained unimmunized. Among children with SCD, there were no significant differences in immunization rates by age; however, adolescents aged 13-17 without SCD were less likely to receive annual flu immunization compared to children aged 6-35 months.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kamran Sadiq, Fatima Mir, Uswa Jiwani, Suhail Chanar, Apsara Nathwani, Muhammad Jawwad, Amjad Hussain, Arjumand Rizvi, Shah Muhammad, Muhammad Atif Habib, Sajid Bashir Soofi, Shabina Ariff, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta
Summary: Diarrhoea is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide, and Pakistan has a high burden of diarrhoea-related deaths. This study identifies risk factors associated with diarrhoea in children under 23 months, including younger maternal age, higher paternal education, not breastfeeding, and poverty. This has implications for developing prevention programs and strategies targeting high-risk populations.
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Ariane Girard, Michele Dugas, Johanie Lepine, Valerie Carnovale, Laura Jalbert, Audrey Turmel, Theo Stefan, Andree-Anne Poirier, Benoit Mailhot, Becky Skidmore, Yves Couturier, Shandi Miller, Annie LeBlanc
Summary: Family physicians' engagement in primary care research is essential for improving the quality of healthcare practices. This study assessed the effectiveness of strategies to involve family physicians in research and found that compensation/incentive, recruitment by a peer, and support from a research network or academic institution are effective strategies in increasing participation rates.
JOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Justin R. Ortiz, David Bernstein, Daniel F. Hoft, Christopher W. Woods, Micah T. McClain, Sharon E. Frey, Rebecca C. Brady, Christopher Bryant, Ashley Wegel, Robert W. Frenck Jr, Emmanuel B. Walter, Getahun Abate, Sarah R. Williams, Robert L. Atmar, Wendy A. Keitel, Nadine Rouphael, Mathew J. Memoli, Mamodikoe K. Makhene, Paul C. Roberts, Kathleen M. Neuzil
Summary: This study evaluated the associations between baseline influenza virus-specific HAI and MN titers and subsequent symptomatic influenza virus infection in a controlled human infection study. The results showed that high baseline HAI and MN were associated with protection from illness.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jocelyn Moyes, Stefano Tempia, Sibongile Walaza, Meredith L. McMorrow, Florette Treurnicht, Nicole Wolter, Anne von Gottberg, Kathleen Kahn, Adam L. Cohen, Halima Dawood, Ebrahim Variava, Cheryl Cohen
Summary: Based on a study in South African children, the burden of RSV-associated illness was estimated, with newborns and infants being the most affected group. Implementing maternal vaccination and monoclonal antibody products for this group can help reduce the disease burden.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jocelyn Moyes, Stefano Tempia, Sibongile Walaza, Meredith L. McMorrow, Florette Treurnicht, Nicole Wolter, Anne von Gottberg, Kathleen Kahn, Adam L. Cohen, Halima Dawood, Ebrahim Variava, Cheryl Cohen
Summary: Studying the economic burden of RSV-associated illness can help inform decisions on the implementation of maternal vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. A costing study conducted in South Africa estimated the cost of RSV-associated illness in infants and found that the highest cost burden was in the youngest infants.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Veeraraghavan Balaji, Duy M. M. Dinh, Anne V. V. Kane, Sajid Soofi, Imran Ahmed, Arjumand Rizvi, Meera Chatterjee, Sudhir Babji, Joanne Duara, Joy Moy, Elena N. N. Naumova, Christine A. A. Wanke, Honorine D. D. Ward, Zulfiqar A. A. Bhutta
Summary: This longitudinal study in Sindh, Pakistan found that age, residential location, and intervention had significant effects on the composition, relative abundance, and diversity of the intestinal microbiota in children under 24 months of age. The study highlights the importance of longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes to fully understand the intestinal microbiota of children in resource-limited settings.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Bernardette Cichon, Jai K. Das, Rehana A. Salam, Zahra A. Padhani, Heather C. Stobaugh, Muzna Mughal, Patrizia Pajak, Alexandra Rutishauser-Perera, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Robert E. Black
Summary: Currently, there are no WHO guidelines for the management of moderately wasted children worldwide. This review aimed to synthesize evidence on the best type, quantity, and duration of dietary treatment for moderate wasting. The study found that fortified blended foods (FBFs) with improved micronutrient and/or milk content (enhanced FBFs) and lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) had similar recovery rates, while children treated with non-enhanced FBFs had lower recovery rates than those treated with LNS. There was no significant difference in recovery when ready-to-use therapeutic and ready-to-use supplementary food were compared.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Nadia Amin Somani, Keiko Marshall, Hammad Durrani, Kun Tang, Roman Mogilevskii, Zulfiqar Bhutta
Summary: This study conducts a systematic review of existing frameworks to understand the roles of the for-profit private sector in non-communicable disease control and management. The findings suggest that the private sector can contribute to effectively manage and control NCDs globally through various functions, such as healthcare provision, innovation, knowledge education, investment and financing, public-private partnerships, and governance and policy.
Editorial Material
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Marian Knight
OBSTETRICIAN & GYNAECOLOGIST
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Jai K. Das, Rehana A. Salam, Arjumand Rizvi, Sajid B. Soofi, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta
Summary: Despite the decline in under-five mortality, communicable and infectious diseases remain the main causes of child mortality that can be prevented and treated. A study was conducted in rural Pakistan to evaluate the potential impact of a participatory community engagement and innovative community incentivization strategy for improving child health interventions. The evaluation involved a three-arm cluster randomized controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of community mobilization and incentivization, community mobilization only, and a control group.
METHODS AND PROTOCOLS
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Zahid Ali Memon, Abeer Mian, Sophie Reale, Rachael Spencer, Zulfiqar Bhutta, Hora Soltani
Summary: Unmet need for family planning is high in Pakistan due to lack of access to modern contraception and sociocultural hindrances. This study aims to explore barriers and enablers to modern contraception uptake in order to reduce maternal and child mortality and improve reproductive health outcomes.
JMIR FORMATIVE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Maria Martin-Vicente, Hloni Mthiyane, Maria A. Jimenez-Sousa, Kathleen Subramoney, Orienka Hellferscee, Nicole Wolter, Sibongile Walaza, Amanda Fernandez-Rodriguez, Cheryl Cohen, Anne von Gottberg, Salvador Resino, Isidoro Martinez, Florette K. Treurnicht
Summary: The TNIP1 gene polymorphisms are associated with the susceptibility to symptomatic HRSV infection and bronchiolitis in infants, particularly the rs73272842 G allele and rs999011 C allele.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Demography
George Palattiyil, Md. Tariqul Islam Limon, Md. Fahad Jubayer, Habibur Rahman, Irin Sultana, Mesbha Uddin Ahmed, Dina Sidhva, Harish Nair
Summary: While the COVID-19 pandemic affects people globally, the Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh are particularly vulnerable due to poor healthcare, hygiene, and overcrowding. Superstitions and lack of trust in the healthcare system exacerbate the risks. A multi-sectoral approach is needed to implement an action plan that includes surveillance, testing, infection control measures, sufficient food supply, and improved healthcare services to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on this refugee population.
ASIAN AND PACIFIC MIGRATION JOURNAL
(2023)
