Recommendations from parents, administrative staff and clinicians to improve paediatric ambulatory appointment scheduling.

Background: Stakeholders can provide valuable input to improve scheduling paediatric ambulatory clinic appointments, a complex process that requires effective planning and communication between parents, administrative staff and clinicians. The purpose of our study was to characterize recommendations from parents, administrative staff and clinicians to improve paediatric ambulatory appointment scheduling.

Methods: Conducted between February 2018 and January 2019, this qualitative study was guided by qualitative description.

Short and long-term safety of the 2009 AS03-adjuvanted pandemic vaccine.

Background: This study assessed the short and the long term safety of the 2009 AS03 adjuvanted monovalent pandemic vaccine through an active web-based electronic surveillance. We compared its safety profile to that of the seasonal trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) for 2010-2011.

Methodology/principal Findings: Health care workers (HCW) vaccinated in 2009 with the pandemic vaccine (Arepanrix ® from GSK) or HCW vaccinated in 2010 with the 2010-2011 TIV were invited to participate in a web-based active surveillance of vaccine safety.

Ontogeny of Toll-like receptor mediated cytokine responses of human blood mononuclear cells.

Newborns and young infants suffer increased infectious morbidity and mortality as compared to older children and adults. Morbidity and mortality due to infection are highest during the first weeks of life, decreasing over several years. Furthermore, most vaccines are not administered around birth, but over the first few years of life.

Measuring hepatitis B uptake in a new universal infant program.

Background: Vancouver-Richmond Health Board has the highest reported rate of hepatitis B in Canada, including an annual average of 25 cases in children under 12 years of age, based on reports from 1994-1997 inclusive. The current provincial adolescent grade-six hepatitis B immunization program does not protect against childhood infection. The regional health board implemented universal infant hepatitis B immunization in September 1998.

Comparative safety of tetanus-diphtheria toxoids booster immunization in students in Grades 6 and 9.

Background: Tetanus-diphtheria toxoids (Td) booster immunization is generally recommended for Grade 9 students (14- to 16-year-olds) but targeting younger students may enhance vaccine uptake or facilitate simultaneous vaccinations. However, earlier vaccination might cause greater side effects. This study was undertaken to compare the safety of Td vaccinations in students in Grade 6 (11 to 12 years old) and Grade 9.