HPV vaccination: a current view
Despoina Gkentzi and Shamez Ladhani
pp 1-4
Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are DNA viruses that infect epithelial cells of the skin and mucous membranes. Most known HPV types do not cause any symptoms in humans. Some types, however, can cause a variety of conditions, particularly warts, which are usually self-limiting, with more than 90% of the warts clearing within two years. In a small proportion, however, HPV infection can lead to cancer, particularly of the cervix, but also of the vulva, penis, anus, and the mouth and throat.
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Comment: Don't lose faith
Peter M English
pp 3-3
Pertussis vaccine works. Within days of receiving their first dose of vaccine, babies are protected. Prior to its introduction, there were whooping cough epidemics every three to five years, causing about 300 deaths a year. Recently, there have been about four deaths a year. It is essential that parents continue to trust the vaccine, and get their
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Uptake of seasonal flu vaccine: North East Lincolnshire
Isobel Duckworth, Kay Crawford and Philip Huntley
pp 4-5
Previously, articles in Vaccines in practice have discussed immunisation of healthcare workers (HCWs)to increase seasonal flu vaccine (SFV) uptake. In addition, the Chief Medical Officer’s letter outlined the employer’s responsibility regarding the seasonal flu immunisation programme for health and social care workers. In the summer of 2011, she indicated a requirement to increase SFV uptake in HCWs to levels of 40%, which had been achieved in 2009–10, the flu pandemic year. Her rationale was that if it can be achieved in one year, it can be achieved again. The following year, 2010–11, saw national levels of 34%.
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Delivering the immunisation promise in India – a snapshot
Saurabh Sharma and Karan Singh Sagar
pp 6-8
The Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) in India is one of the largest public health programmes worldwide in terms of logistics, geography and beneficiaries reached, as well as immunisation sessions conducted. The success of the UIP is crucial for a global reduction in the number of unimmunised children. It is believed that a strong immunisation programme provides a solid foundation for the expansion of maternal and child health and other public health interventions. In the last few years, UIP has seen an overall qualitative and quantitative improvement as a result of various interventions implemented by the government of India and states under the umbrella of the National Rural Health Mission.
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Immunisation in Bexley
Anjali Pai Nayak, Elizabeth Marchant and Khushbu Lalwani
pp 9-11
The Department of Health has been conducting the Parents’ Childhood Immunisation Tracking Survey twice a year since 1991, then annually since 2005. These surveys have obtained information on knowledge and awareness of vaccinations, reasons for uptakes, refusals and delays of vaccinations, attitudes towards the current immunisation programme, and common sources of information, by interviewing parents who have children aged 0–4 years. Results of such a survey can contribute to increasing the immunisation coverage by ascertaining problem areas within the existing service provision, as well as identifying approaches that work.
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