We aimed to evaluate the safety of maternal Tdap; thus, we assessed health events by examining th... more We aimed to evaluate the safety of maternal Tdap; thus, we assessed health events by examining the difference in birth and hospital-related outcomes of infants with and without fetal exposure to Tdap. This was a retrospective cohort study using linked administrative datasets. The study population were all live-born infants in New Zealand (NZ) weighing at least 400 g at delivery and born to women who were eligible for the government funded, national-level vaccination program in 2013. Infants were followed from birth up to one year of age. There were a total of 69,389 eligible infants in the cohort. Of these, 8299 infants were born to 8178 mothers exposed to Tdap (12%), primarily between 28 and 38 weeks gestation as per the national schedule. Among the outcomes, we found a reduced risk for moderate to late preterm birth, low birth weight, small for gestational age, large for gestational age, respiratory distress syndrome, transient tachypnea of newborn, tachycardia or bradycardia, hae...
The intention of this viewpoint article is to prompt discussion and debate about primary health c... more The intention of this viewpoint article is to prompt discussion and debate about primary health care funding for children under the age of six. While New Zealand offers a superb natural environment for childhood, our child health outcomes continue to be poor, ranking lowest amongst 29 countries in a recent report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Since 1996, various funding arrangements have been introduced with the goal of achieving free primary health care for children under six years of age and nearly 80% of practices now offer care to this group without charge. Universal no cost or very low cost access for young children, however, remains elusive, particularly for after-hours care, and this is important given that at least one in five children lives in poverty. We are under no illusions about the complexity of primary care funding mechanisms and the challenges of supporting financially-sustainable systems of after-hours care. Good health care early i...
Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, Jul 19, 2018
Hospitalization rates for infectious diseases in New Zealand (NZ) children have increased since 1... more Hospitalization rates for infectious diseases in New Zealand (NZ) children have increased since 1989. The highest burden is among Māori and Pacific children, and the most socioeconomically deprived. NZ introduced pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)7 in June 2008, PCV10 in 2011 and PCV13 in 2014. A retrospective cohort study of NZ children aged <6 years between 2006 and 2015 using administrative databases. Demographics and hospitalizations were linked to evaluate the impact of the PCV vaccination program on cases of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), all-cause pneumonia (ACP), and otitis media (OM), defined by ICD-10-AM codes, and to explore the effect by ethnicity and deprivation. Between 2006 and 2015, there were 640 children hospitalized with IPD, 26,589 for ACP, and 44,545 for OM. IPD hospitalizations declined by 73% between 2005 and 2015 for children <6 years of age, while ACP and OM declined by 8% and 25%, respectively. The highest rates for all diseases were among Māo...
Little is known about inactivated influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE) in preventing very severe... more Little is known about inactivated influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE) in preventing very severe disease, including influenza-associated intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. The Southern Hemisphere Influenza and Vaccine Effectiveness Research and Surveillance (SHIVERS) project enrolled adults (aged ≥ 18 years) with acute respiratory illness (ARI) in general ward (GW) hospital settings (n = 3034) and ICUs (n = 101) during 2012-2015. IVE was assessed using a test-negative design comparing the odds of influenza vaccination among influenza positives vs. negatives (confirmed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction). All models were adjusted for season, weeks from season peak, and a vaccination propensity score. Influenza virus infection was confirmed in 28% of GW hospital and 41% of ICU patients; influenza vaccination was documented for 56% and 41%, respectively. Across seasons, IVE was 37% (95% confidence intervals [CI] = 23-48%) among GW patients and 82% (95% CI ...
Influenza continues to be a global public health problem despite the availability of preventive v... more Influenza continues to be a global public health problem despite the availability of preventive vaccines and public health vaccination programmes. This paper presents a synopsis of the 3rd New Zealand Influenza Symposium (NZiS) that was hosted by the Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) in November 2016. Experts and service providers convened to discuss current issues in the prevention and management of influenza. One of the key topics discussed was the use of novel vaccines, such as adjuvanted and high-dose vaccines, and antiviral prophylaxis to protect young children and the elderly. Another area of focus was on paradigms of seasonal influenza vaccination strategies that reduce community transmission and provide individual protection to reduce the burden of influenza. The need for better influenza surveillance and country-specific data to guide policy makers and healthcare providers was highlighted in order to improve population health outcomes.
The immunologic factors underlying severe influenza are poorly understood. To address this, we co... more The immunologic factors underlying severe influenza are poorly understood. To address this, we compared the immune responses of influenza-confirmed hospitalized individuals with severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) to those of non-hospitalized individuals with influenza-like illness (ILI). Peripheral blood lymphocytes were collected from ILI (N=27) and SARI-patients (N=27) at time of enrollment and then two weeks later. Innate and adaptive cellular immune responses were assessed by flow-cytometry and serum cytokines were assessed by bead-based assay. During the acute phase, SARI was associated with significantly reduced numbers of circulating myeloid dendritic cells, CD192+ monocytes, and influenza-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells compared to ILI. By convalescence however, most SARI cases displayed continued immune activation characterized by increased numbers of CD16+ monocytes and proliferating, and influenza-specific, CD8+ T -cells compared to ILI. SARI was also associated with,...
The varicella vaccine has been proposed to be added to the childhood immunisation schedule in New... more The varicella vaccine has been proposed to be added to the childhood immunisation schedule in New Zealand as the fourth injectable at the 15-month event. We sought to understand the perceptions of caregivers and health-care providers regarding the potential introduction of routine varicella vaccination. A qualitative exploratory study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with caregivers and providers (N = 20) in Auckland. Key themes from the interviews were identified through thematic analysis using a combination of deductive and inductive coding. All of the participants were aware of varicella but levels of awareness varied among caregivers regarding the varicella vaccine. Participants expressed positive support towards universal varicella vaccination and a high intention to vaccinate if available as a routine vaccine. However, many concerns were raised about multiple injections at a single immunisation visit, and participants suggested alternative scheduling options. The results indicated a need to raise awareness among caregivers about the varicella vaccine, focusing on positive health beliefs about vaccination in terms of protecting the child&#39;s health and reducing the impact of a child getting varicella on the family. Health-care providers and government health authorities may play an important role in increasing positive health beliefs about the varicella vaccine. Should the varicella vaccine be introduced as proposed, our findings recommend an educational campaign to address both caregiver and provider concerns about multiple injections and how to manage alternative immunisation schedules. These insights may help inform national strategies for the proposed addition to increase acceptance of the varicella vaccination.
Influenza is a common respiratory viral infection. Seasonal outbreaks of influenza cause substant... more Influenza is a common respiratory viral infection. Seasonal outbreaks of influenza cause substantial morbidity and mortality that burdens healthcare services every year. The influenza virus constantly evolves by antigenic drift and occasionally by antigenic shift, making this disease particularly challenging to manage and prevent. As influenza viruses cause seasonal outbreaks and also have the ability to cause pandemics leading to widespread social and economic losses, focused discussions on improving management and prevention efforts is warranted. The Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) hosted the 2nd New Zealand Influenza Symposium (NZiS) in November 2015. International and national participants discussed current issues in influenza management and prevention. Experts in the field presented data from recent studies and discussed the ecology of influenza viruses, epidemiology of influenza, methods of prevention and minimisation, and experiences from the 2015 seasonal influenza immun...
Though it is believed the switch from whole cell to acellular pertussis vaccine has contributed t... more Though it is believed the switch from whole cell to acellular pertussis vaccine has contributed to the resurgence of pertussis disease, few studies have evaluated vaccine effectiveness (VE) and duration of protection provided by an acellular vaccine schedule including three primary doses but no toddler-age dose. We assessed this schedule in New Zealand (NZ), a setting with historically high rates of pertussis disease, and low but recently improved immunisation coverage. We further evaluated protection following the preschool-age booster dose. We performed a nested case-control study using national-level healthcare data. Hospitalised and non-hospitalised pertussis was detected among children 6weeks to 7years of age between January 2006 and December 2013. The NZ National Immunisation Register provided vaccination status for cases and controls. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate dose-specific VE with duration of immunity examined by stratifying VE into ages aligned with the immunisation schedule. VE against pertussis hospitalisation was 93% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 87, 96) following three doses among infants aged 5-11months who received three compared to zero doses. This protection was sustained through children&#39;s fourth birthdays (VE⩾91%). VE against non-hospitalised pertussis was also sustained after three doses, from 86% (95% CI: 80, 90) among 5-11month olds to 84% (95% CI: 80, 88) among 3-year-olds. Following the first booster dose at 4years of age, the protective VE of 93% (95% CI: 90, 95) among 4-year-olds continued through 7years of age (VE⩾91%). We found a high level of protection with no reduction in VE following both the primary course and the first booster dose. These findings support a 3-dose primary course of acellular vaccine with no booster dose until 4years of age.
... needs and knowledge gaps we are unlikely to make much headway with addressing community-wid... more ... needs and knowledge gaps we are unlikely to make much headway with addressing community-wide fears and misconceptions ... Author information: Nikki Turner, Director Immunisation Advisory Centre, Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of ...
We aimed to evaluate the safety of maternal Tdap; thus, we assessed health events by examining th... more We aimed to evaluate the safety of maternal Tdap; thus, we assessed health events by examining the difference in birth and hospital-related outcomes of infants with and without fetal exposure to Tdap. This was a retrospective cohort study using linked administrative datasets. The study population were all live-born infants in New Zealand (NZ) weighing at least 400 g at delivery and born to women who were eligible for the government funded, national-level vaccination program in 2013. Infants were followed from birth up to one year of age. There were a total of 69,389 eligible infants in the cohort. Of these, 8299 infants were born to 8178 mothers exposed to Tdap (12%), primarily between 28 and 38 weeks gestation as per the national schedule. Among the outcomes, we found a reduced risk for moderate to late preterm birth, low birth weight, small for gestational age, large for gestational age, respiratory distress syndrome, transient tachypnea of newborn, tachycardia or bradycardia, hae...
The intention of this viewpoint article is to prompt discussion and debate about primary health c... more The intention of this viewpoint article is to prompt discussion and debate about primary health care funding for children under the age of six. While New Zealand offers a superb natural environment for childhood, our child health outcomes continue to be poor, ranking lowest amongst 29 countries in a recent report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Since 1996, various funding arrangements have been introduced with the goal of achieving free primary health care for children under six years of age and nearly 80% of practices now offer care to this group without charge. Universal no cost or very low cost access for young children, however, remains elusive, particularly for after-hours care, and this is important given that at least one in five children lives in poverty. We are under no illusions about the complexity of primary care funding mechanisms and the challenges of supporting financially-sustainable systems of after-hours care. Good health care early i...
Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, Jul 19, 2018
Hospitalization rates for infectious diseases in New Zealand (NZ) children have increased since 1... more Hospitalization rates for infectious diseases in New Zealand (NZ) children have increased since 1989. The highest burden is among Māori and Pacific children, and the most socioeconomically deprived. NZ introduced pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)7 in June 2008, PCV10 in 2011 and PCV13 in 2014. A retrospective cohort study of NZ children aged <6 years between 2006 and 2015 using administrative databases. Demographics and hospitalizations were linked to evaluate the impact of the PCV vaccination program on cases of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), all-cause pneumonia (ACP), and otitis media (OM), defined by ICD-10-AM codes, and to explore the effect by ethnicity and deprivation. Between 2006 and 2015, there were 640 children hospitalized with IPD, 26,589 for ACP, and 44,545 for OM. IPD hospitalizations declined by 73% between 2005 and 2015 for children <6 years of age, while ACP and OM declined by 8% and 25%, respectively. The highest rates for all diseases were among Māo...
Little is known about inactivated influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE) in preventing very severe... more Little is known about inactivated influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE) in preventing very severe disease, including influenza-associated intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. The Southern Hemisphere Influenza and Vaccine Effectiveness Research and Surveillance (SHIVERS) project enrolled adults (aged ≥ 18 years) with acute respiratory illness (ARI) in general ward (GW) hospital settings (n = 3034) and ICUs (n = 101) during 2012-2015. IVE was assessed using a test-negative design comparing the odds of influenza vaccination among influenza positives vs. negatives (confirmed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction). All models were adjusted for season, weeks from season peak, and a vaccination propensity score. Influenza virus infection was confirmed in 28% of GW hospital and 41% of ICU patients; influenza vaccination was documented for 56% and 41%, respectively. Across seasons, IVE was 37% (95% confidence intervals [CI] = 23-48%) among GW patients and 82% (95% CI ...
Influenza continues to be a global public health problem despite the availability of preventive v... more Influenza continues to be a global public health problem despite the availability of preventive vaccines and public health vaccination programmes. This paper presents a synopsis of the 3rd New Zealand Influenza Symposium (NZiS) that was hosted by the Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) in November 2016. Experts and service providers convened to discuss current issues in the prevention and management of influenza. One of the key topics discussed was the use of novel vaccines, such as adjuvanted and high-dose vaccines, and antiviral prophylaxis to protect young children and the elderly. Another area of focus was on paradigms of seasonal influenza vaccination strategies that reduce community transmission and provide individual protection to reduce the burden of influenza. The need for better influenza surveillance and country-specific data to guide policy makers and healthcare providers was highlighted in order to improve population health outcomes.
The immunologic factors underlying severe influenza are poorly understood. To address this, we co... more The immunologic factors underlying severe influenza are poorly understood. To address this, we compared the immune responses of influenza-confirmed hospitalized individuals with severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) to those of non-hospitalized individuals with influenza-like illness (ILI). Peripheral blood lymphocytes were collected from ILI (N=27) and SARI-patients (N=27) at time of enrollment and then two weeks later. Innate and adaptive cellular immune responses were assessed by flow-cytometry and serum cytokines were assessed by bead-based assay. During the acute phase, SARI was associated with significantly reduced numbers of circulating myeloid dendritic cells, CD192+ monocytes, and influenza-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells compared to ILI. By convalescence however, most SARI cases displayed continued immune activation characterized by increased numbers of CD16+ monocytes and proliferating, and influenza-specific, CD8+ T -cells compared to ILI. SARI was also associated with,...
The varicella vaccine has been proposed to be added to the childhood immunisation schedule in New... more The varicella vaccine has been proposed to be added to the childhood immunisation schedule in New Zealand as the fourth injectable at the 15-month event. We sought to understand the perceptions of caregivers and health-care providers regarding the potential introduction of routine varicella vaccination. A qualitative exploratory study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with caregivers and providers (N = 20) in Auckland. Key themes from the interviews were identified through thematic analysis using a combination of deductive and inductive coding. All of the participants were aware of varicella but levels of awareness varied among caregivers regarding the varicella vaccine. Participants expressed positive support towards universal varicella vaccination and a high intention to vaccinate if available as a routine vaccine. However, many concerns were raised about multiple injections at a single immunisation visit, and participants suggested alternative scheduling options. The results indicated a need to raise awareness among caregivers about the varicella vaccine, focusing on positive health beliefs about vaccination in terms of protecting the child&#39;s health and reducing the impact of a child getting varicella on the family. Health-care providers and government health authorities may play an important role in increasing positive health beliefs about the varicella vaccine. Should the varicella vaccine be introduced as proposed, our findings recommend an educational campaign to address both caregiver and provider concerns about multiple injections and how to manage alternative immunisation schedules. These insights may help inform national strategies for the proposed addition to increase acceptance of the varicella vaccination.
Influenza is a common respiratory viral infection. Seasonal outbreaks of influenza cause substant... more Influenza is a common respiratory viral infection. Seasonal outbreaks of influenza cause substantial morbidity and mortality that burdens healthcare services every year. The influenza virus constantly evolves by antigenic drift and occasionally by antigenic shift, making this disease particularly challenging to manage and prevent. As influenza viruses cause seasonal outbreaks and also have the ability to cause pandemics leading to widespread social and economic losses, focused discussions on improving management and prevention efforts is warranted. The Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) hosted the 2nd New Zealand Influenza Symposium (NZiS) in November 2015. International and national participants discussed current issues in influenza management and prevention. Experts in the field presented data from recent studies and discussed the ecology of influenza viruses, epidemiology of influenza, methods of prevention and minimisation, and experiences from the 2015 seasonal influenza immun...
Though it is believed the switch from whole cell to acellular pertussis vaccine has contributed t... more Though it is believed the switch from whole cell to acellular pertussis vaccine has contributed to the resurgence of pertussis disease, few studies have evaluated vaccine effectiveness (VE) and duration of protection provided by an acellular vaccine schedule including three primary doses but no toddler-age dose. We assessed this schedule in New Zealand (NZ), a setting with historically high rates of pertussis disease, and low but recently improved immunisation coverage. We further evaluated protection following the preschool-age booster dose. We performed a nested case-control study using national-level healthcare data. Hospitalised and non-hospitalised pertussis was detected among children 6weeks to 7years of age between January 2006 and December 2013. The NZ National Immunisation Register provided vaccination status for cases and controls. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate dose-specific VE with duration of immunity examined by stratifying VE into ages aligned with the immunisation schedule. VE against pertussis hospitalisation was 93% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 87, 96) following three doses among infants aged 5-11months who received three compared to zero doses. This protection was sustained through children&#39;s fourth birthdays (VE⩾91%). VE against non-hospitalised pertussis was also sustained after three doses, from 86% (95% CI: 80, 90) among 5-11month olds to 84% (95% CI: 80, 88) among 3-year-olds. Following the first booster dose at 4years of age, the protective VE of 93% (95% CI: 90, 95) among 4-year-olds continued through 7years of age (VE⩾91%). We found a high level of protection with no reduction in VE following both the primary course and the first booster dose. These findings support a 3-dose primary course of acellular vaccine with no booster dose until 4years of age.
... needs and knowledge gaps we are unlikely to make much headway with addressing community-wid... more ... needs and knowledge gaps we are unlikely to make much headway with addressing community-wide fears and misconceptions ... Author information: Nikki Turner, Director Immunisation Advisory Centre, Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of ...
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