Effectiveness of oral aciclovir in preventing maternal chickenpox: A comparison with VZIG.

Objectives: Although often presenting as a self-limiting childhood disease, chickenpox can have serious consequences if acquired in pregnancy. Until April 2022, the UK recommendations were that varicella immunoglobulin (VZIG) should be administered intramuscularly to susceptible pregnant women exposed to chickenpox prior to 20 weeks gestation. Oral aciclovir or VZIG was recommended if exposure occurred at 20+ weeks gestation.

Improving vaccine coverage in adolescence and beyond.

High vaccine coverage is required to ensure population protection, including protection of those that cannot receive vaccines either due to contraindications or age. Despite this, some areas continue to report low vaccine coverage. Reasons for this may vary but can include factors such as difficulties accessing services, conflicting priorities and false contraindications or fear of potential side effects.

Improving vaccine uptake: an overview.

A task group was formed with the aim to improve the quality of the service offered by ensuring that all children waiting for an appointment for vaccination would be offered one at the earliest opportunity. Children aged between 12 mo-5 y that were not completely immunized for their age were identified and included in a pilot catch-up session. Following evaluation of the pilot session, four further immunization sessions were delivered.

Attitudinal and demographic predictors of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) uptake during the UK catch-up campaign 2008-09: cross-sectional survey.

Background And Objective: Continued suboptimal measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine uptake has re-established measles epidemic risk, prompting a UK catch-up campaign in 2008-09 for children who missed MMR doses at scheduled age. Predictors of vaccine uptake during catch-ups are poorly understood, however evidence from routine schedule uptake suggests demographics and attitudes may be central. This work explored this hypothesis using a robust evidence-based measure.

Attitudinal and demographic predictors of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine acceptance: development and validation of an evidence-based measurement instrument.

Background And Objective: Parents' attitudes toward MMR vaccine and measles, mumps and rubella infections relate to their child's MMR status, therefore improving these attitudes is central to improving current suboptimal MMR uptake. However, no study has yet combined evidence-based, comprehensive and psychometrically validated assessment of these attitudes with reliable objective MMR status data, in order to identify through multivariate analyses the strongest attitudinal predictors of MMR uptake for interventions to target. The present study fills this lacuna by developing and testing a robust evidence-based MMR attitudes measurement instrument.

Referrals to a pediatric immunization service: Findings from a practice-based audit of a UK specialist immunization clinic.

Against a background of new developments and updated clinical guidelines, health care professionals (HCPs) administering childhood and adolescent immunizations require access to expert advice and support when appropriate. The clinical records of all pediatric referrals seen at a UK-based facility-the Stockport Specialist Immunization Clinic (SS IC)-between 01/10/2006 and 31/03/2007 were reviewed to determine the stated reason(s) for referral to a specialist immunization service and the outcome of that process. During the 6 month audit period, 430 case notes were identified and 410 (95%) were audited.

Immune response to pneumococcal conjugate vaccination in asplenic individuals.

Asplenic individuals are at increased risk of infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae. The immune response to pneumococcal conjugate vaccine has not been investigated in this clinical risk group. We investigated immune responses to pneumococcal vaccination in asplenic individuals.

Intradermal recombinant hepatitis B vaccination (IDRV) for non-responsive healthcare workers (HCWs).

This was an observational study of non-responsive HCWs who were referred to Stockport Specialist Immunisation Clinic (SSIC) between 1(st) January 2003 and 31(st) May 2006. Anti-HBs titres were determined 4-6 weeks after each intradermal recombinant vaccine (IDRV). Median anti-HBs titres were compared using the exact Wilcoxon rank sum test.

Immune response to meningococcal serogroup C conjugate vaccine in asplenic individuals.

Asplenic individuals are known to be at increased risk of infection with encapsulated bacteria. Recent United Kingdom recommendations stated that this at-risk group should receive one dose of the meningococcal serogroup C conjugate (MCC) vaccine. However, the immune response of asplenic individuals to MCC vaccine is unknown.