The epidemiology of infectious diseases in Europe in 2020 versus 2017-2019 and the rise of tick-borne encephalitis (1995-2020).

Health control measures instituted in 2020 to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic decreased the case numbers of many infectious diseases across Europe. One notable exception was tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). In Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic, the upturn was significantly higher compared to the average of the three years previously (P<0.

Considering the market share of vaccines against tick-borne encephalitis reported in Austria.

Different market share values for TBE vaccines in Austria are reported during the period 2018–2020. However, both data likely cover a significant under-estimation of doses distributed. Thus, for epidemiological evaluations, market share should be used with prudence and only reported when solid whole-market market share can be validated and referenced.

The changing epidemiology of human monkeypox-A potential threat? A systematic review.

Monkeypox, a zoonotic disease caused by an orthopoxvirus, results in a smallpox-like disease in humans. Since monkeypox in humans was initially diagnosed in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), it has spread to other regions of Africa (primarily West and Central), and cases outside Africa have emerged in recent years. We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed and grey literature on how monkeypox epidemiology has evolved, with particular emphasis on the number of confirmed, probable, and/or possible cases, age at presentation, mortality, and geographical spread.

One or two doses of hepatitis A vaccine in universal vaccination programs in children in 2020: A systematic review.

Background: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a global health concern as outbreaks continue to occur. Since 1999, several countries have introduced universal vaccination (UV) of children against HAV according to approved two-dose schedules. Other countries have implemented one-dose UV programs since 2005; the long-term impact of this schedule is not yet known.

Interchangeability between pneumococcal conjugate vaccines for pediatric use: a systematic literature review.

: Evidence on the interchangeability between the two pediatric pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) - pneumococcal non-typeable protein D-conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV) and 13-valent PCV (PCV13) - is limited but growing. We performed a systematic literature review to summarize evidence for PHiD-CV/PCV13 interchangeability regarding immunogenicity, safety, and effectiveness against pneumococcal disease. : Seven records disclosing results from six studies on PHiD-CV/PCV13 interchangeability were identified.

Increasing Burden of Hepatitis A in Adolescents and Adults and the Need for Long-Term Protection: A Review from the Indian Subcontinent.

Hepatitis A, an acute inflammatory liver disease caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection from close contact with infected people, is highly endemic in the Indian subcontinent. Due to poor sanitary conditions, most of the population is exposed to the virus in childhood. At this age, the disease is asymptomatic and provides life-long protection against the disease.

Would immunization be the same without cross-reactivity?

"Cross-reactivity" (the observed immune response against pathogen types not specifically targeted by the vaccine antigen composition) and "cross-protection" (clinical protection against related non-vaccine microorganism types) are vaccinology concepts that are attracting renewed interest in the context of disease prevention. National health authorities are collecting mounting evidence of the importance of cross-reactivity. For some vaccines, this has been substantiated by cross-protection data from clinical studies and/or post-licensure data, where their introduction into immunization programmes has shown beneficial impacts on disease caused by related non-vaccine microorganisms.

Stability of an aluminum salt-adjuvanted protein D-conjugated pneumococcal vaccine after exposure to subzero temperatures.

Accidental exposure of a vaccine containing an aluminum-salt adjuvant to temperatures below 0°C in the cold chain can lead to freeze damage. Our study evaluated the potential for freeze damage in a licensed aluminum-salt-containing protein-D-conjugated pneumococcal vaccine (PHiD-CV; Synflorix, GSK) in conditions that included static storage, single subzero-temperature excursions, and simulated air-freight transportation. Several parameters were assessed including freezing at subzero temperatures, aluminum-salt-particle size, antigen integrity and immunogenicity in the mouse.

Public health impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine infant immunization programs: assessment of invasive pneumococcal disease burden and serotype distribution.

Introduction: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) impact studies have reported substantial reductions in the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) after implementation of childhood PCV programs. Heterogeneity in surveillance systems, local epidemiology and PCV programs hampers comparisons between studies. We aimed to better understand the impact of childhood PCV programs on overall IPD and serotype distribution.

Impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on otitis media: A review of measurement and interpretation challenges.

Acute otitis media (AOM) is among the most frequent childhood diseases and is caused by various bacterial and viral etiological agents. In this article, we provide an overview of published studies assessing the impact of higher-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) on AOM. In some instances, reports of PCV impact on complications of AOM have been included.

A reflection on invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumococcal conjugate vaccination coverage in children in Southern Europe (2009-2016).

Higher-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) were licensed from 2009 in Europe; similar worldwide clinical effectiveness was observed for PCVs in routine use. Despite a proven medical need, PCV vaccination in Southern Europe remained suboptimal until 2015/16. We searched PubMed for manuscripts published between 2009 and mid-2016.

Response to Wu et al. - Cost-effectiveness analysis of infant pneumococcal vaccination in Malaysia and Hong Kong.

A recently published paper that assessed the comparative cost-effectiveness of the 2 pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) in Malaysia and Hong Kong reported that the 13-valent PCV vaccine (PCV13) is a better choice compared to the 10-valent pneumococcal non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV or PCV10) from both a payer and societal perspective as well as under various scenarios. However, the analysis relied on a large number of assumptions that were either erroneous or did not take into account the most recent body of evidence available. A rigorous evaluation of the underlying assumptions is necessary to present a fair and balanced analysis for decision-making.

Impact of the introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in the Brazilian routine childhood national immunization program.

Brazil introduced the 10-valent pneumococcal non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV, Synflorix™, GSK Vaccines) in the routine childhood immunization program in 2010 with a 3+1 schedule (with catch-up for children <2 years-old). This review represents the first analysis of the overall impact of a second-generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on nasopharyngeal carriage and all the major pneumococcal disease manifestations in a single, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine-naïve, developing country. A total of 15 published articles and 13 congress abstracts were included in the analysis.

Further available immunization option to prevent pneumococcal disease.

In their recent review, Charles Feldman and Ronald Anderson provide an overview of various clinical aspects of pneumococcal infections. We would like to complete this report by providing some additional information on a widely-used immunization option, which was not originally mentioned in the article. The protein D pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV) has been pre-approved by WHO and its impact is supported by real-life data from the regions of its use.

Predicting the impact of new pneumococcal conjugate vaccines: serotype composition is not enough.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide. A heptavalent polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine (PCV) has proven highly effective in preventing pneumococcal disease in industrialized countries. Two higher-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines are now widely available, even in the poorest countries.

Carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae and other respiratory bacterial pathogens in low and lower-middle income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in low income countries where pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) are still underused. In countries where PCVs have been introduced, much of their efficacy has resulted from their impact on nasopharyngeal carriage in vaccinated children. Understanding the epidemiology of carriage for S.

Immunogenicity of HBV vaccine during stated shelf-life.

Thiomersal has been used as preservative in multi-dose vials of hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B). Due to safety concerns, thiomersal was replaced with 2-phenoxyethanol (2PE) as preservative in multi-dose vials. The potency of 2PE preserved hepatitis B vaccine multiple use vials was measured over the shelf-life in terms of immunogenicity, reactogenicity and safety.

Do pneumococcal conjugate vaccines provide any cross-protection against serotype 19A?

Background: Introduction of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (7vCRM) in several countries has led to a rapid, significant drop in vaccine-type invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in immunized children. In the United States and some other countries with high antibiotic use, a subsequent rise in serotype 19A IPD has been taken to indicate that the 19F conjugate in the vaccine provides no cross-protection against the immunologically related 19A.

Discussion: We systematically assessed the clinical efficacy and effectiveness of 19F-containing vaccines against 19A disease or nasopharyngeal carriage by searching English-language articles in the electronic databases PubMed, Current contents, Scopus, and Embase from 1985 to 2008.

Long-term immunogenicity of preservative-free hepatitis B vaccine formulations in adults.

Vaccination with recombinant hepatitis B vaccines is highly effective in preventing hepatitis B infection. Recently, a preservative-free (PF) formulation of hepatitis B vaccine [GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Biologicals, Rixensart, Belgium] has been licensed. The immunogenicity of the PF hepatitis B vaccine and antibody persistence 6 years later was assessed in this study.