Infection Control Consulting Services (ICCS)’s Post

𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗩𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝗲𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘀 𝗕 Did you know that the Hepatitis B vaccine was only introduced to Nigeria's Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in 2003? This means that most adults born in Nigeria, aged 21 and above, have not been vaccinated against this deadly disease. But there's good news! You can still get vaccinated at most primary health care centers and government hospitals. Although the vaccine is paid for and administered in three doses, don't let the cost discourage you. Remember, prevention is better than cure. Take proactive steps to protect your health and get vaccinated today! To learn more about Hepatitis B and its dangers, read our in-depth article (link below). https://lnkd.in/df4U9gmX Stay informed, stay safe!

“Shingles (also called herpes zoster) is the disease caused when the chickenpox virus reactivates. Shingles can cause severe pain that can last for months. Vaccination is a safe and effective way to protect yourself from serious disease caused by shingles. Who should get vaccinated against shingles? Free shingles vaccination under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) is available for eligible people most at risk of complications from shingles. A 2-dose course of Shingrix is available for free for: • people aged 65 years and over • First Nations people aged 50 years and over • immunocompromised people aged 18 years and over with the following medical conditions: • haematopoietic stem cell transplant • solid organ transplant • haematological malignancy • advanced or untreated HIV If you previously received a free Zostavax shingles vaccine under the NIP, you are not eligible for a free Shingrix vaccine for at least 5 years. If you purchased the Zostavax vaccine privately, you can receive Shingrix for free under the program if you’re eligible. You should wait at least 12 months between receiving Zostavax and getting the Shingrix vaccine.” Department of Health. If eligible for the free shingles vaccine you can book directly into the Immunisation Clinic Diary: https://lnkd.in/gzZ5zyeE Or make an appointment with your doctor to find out more: https://lnkd.in/gPq8D9vr #Shingles #protectyourself #community #health #activemedical #carolinesprings

For decades, meningitis had plagued the African meningitis belt, including Nigeria, claiming countless lives and causing widespread devastation. But the introduction of the Men5CV vaccine, which provided protection against five different serogroups of Neisseria meningitidis, offered a beacon of hope. This vaccine wasn’t just a medical breakthrough—it symbolized the growing prowess in the public health arena, cementing Nigeria as a leader in disease prevention and vaccine innovation. The piece was also a celebration of Nigeria’s resilience. It illustrated how the nation had leveraged its experience with previous immunization campaigns to effectively navigate the challenges posed by the Men5CV roll-out. From mobilizing communities to fostering public trust in vaccines, Nigeria was setting a new standard for public health interventions. "A Perspective on the Novel Pentavalent Men5CV Vaccine and Nigeria's Pioneering Roll Out" was not merely a scientific publication. It was a rallying cry for a new era in African public health leadership—one where innovation, resilience, and collaboration became the driving forces behind life-saving breakthroughs. Congratulations to the team led by Bonaventure Michael Ukoaka

🌟 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧!🌟 World Hepatitis Day, is observed annually on July 28. 🔍 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬 :  is an inflammation of the liver caused by five main strains: 𝐀, 𝐁, 𝐂, 𝐃, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄. Among these, hepatitis 𝐁 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂 are the most common and virulent and pose significant health challenges worldwide. 📊 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 📌 𝟑𝟎𝟒 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 currently live with chronic hepatitis B and C globally. 📌 Shockingly, 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝟒𝟓% 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐞𝐬 in the world receive the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth. 📌 𝐈𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐, 𝟏.𝟑 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 were lost due to chronic hepatitis B and C. 💡 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐕𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧  📌 Vaccination plays a crucial role in preventing viral hepatitis. 📌 Encouraging timely vaccination and can significantly reduce the burden of this disease. 👶 For babies (Newborns) the first dose of the vaccine should be given within 24 hours of birth.This early vaccination helps prevent transmission from infected mothers.Additional doses are administered at 1 month and 6 months after the first dose. 🧒 Children and Adolescents should receive the hepatitis A vaccine between the ages of 12 and 23 months. If not vaccinated during this period, catch-up vaccination is recommended.Hepatitis B Vaccine: Children who missed the newborn vaccination should receive the hepatitis B vaccine series. 🧑 Adults: If you haven’t been vaccinated, consider getting the hepatitis B vaccine. 📌 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐬: Adults at higher risk healthcare workers, travelers to endemic areas, people with multiple sexual partners, etc. 📌 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: Consider vaccination if you have chronic liver disease, use recreational drugs, or engage in risky sexual behavior. 🌐 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬, there’s hope: ➡ Diagnostic tools and treatments have improved. ➡ Decreasing product prices make testing and treatment more accessible. However, we must accelerate action to reach the World Health Organization elimination goal by 2030. 🌍 Collaborative Action Let’s unite! On this World Hepatitis Day, let’s advocate for:🌟 #WorldHepatitisDay ↪ Expanded access to diagnosis and treatment in all countries. ↪ Awareness campaigns to educate communities. ↪ Policy changes to prioritize hepatitis prevention and care. 🌟 #WorldHepatitisDay #HepatitisAwareness #PublicHealth #globalhealth #awarnessday #hepatitisvaccination #vaccineworks #vaccination #know #prevent #test #treat

MenACWY is recommended for these groups: Routine vaccination of all children and teens, age 11 through 18 years: a single dose at age 11 or 12 years with a booster dose at age 16 years Routine vaccination of people age 2 months or older at increased risk for meningococcal disease (the primary dosing schedule and booster dose interval varies by age and indication): • People with functional or anatomic asplenia • People who have persistent complement component deficiency (an immune system disorder) or who take a complement inhibitor (eculizumab [Soliris] or ravulizumab [Ultomiris]) • People who have HIV infection • People who are at risk during an outbreak caused by a vaccine serogroup • People age 2 months and older who reside in or travel to certain countries in sub-Saharan Africa as well as to other countries for which meningococcal vaccine is recommended (e.g., travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for the annual Hajj) • Microbiologists who work with meningococcus bacterial isolates in a laboratory • First-year college students living in residence halls who are unvaccinated or undervaccinated; these students should receive a dose if they have not had a dose since turning 16 or if it has been more than 5 years since their previous dose You’ll find this answer, as well as other meningococcal ACWY vaccine Q&As, here: https://lnkd.in/eCck9YjH #ImmunizeOrg #savelivesimmunize #vaccinessavelives #vaccinate #meningitis

🌍 World Immunization Day - November 10th 🌍 In observance of World Immunization Day, I want to turn the spotlight on one of the most critical vaccines that has a significant impact on public health: "The Hepatitis B vaccine." Despite the availability of an effective vaccine, Hepatitis B remains a global health challenge, especially in healthcare settings where the risk of exposure is higher through needlestick injuries and other sharp-related accidents. In our research in a tertiary care center, we’ve practically shown that many healthcare professionals are still at risk due to significant gaps in vaccination coverage which highlights the urgent need of vaccination policy in all healthcare settings. https://lnkd.in/gepaDGbM #WorldImmunizationDay #HepatitisB #Vaccination #NeedlestickInjury Wiley

❗ ❗ Publication Alert❗ ❗ Meningitis continues to ravage regions, particularly those in the meningitis belt, causing devastating morbidity and mortality. Vaccines now seem the only effective preventive measure, offering the most promising solution to this scourge. In our latest publication, "A perspective on the novel pentavalent Men5CV (NmCV-5) meningitis vaccine and Nigeria’s pioneering rollout campaign," we expound on the burden of meningitis, historical perspective, and past efforts to eradicate it through mass vaccination. We highlight Nigeria's historic move, which sets a precedent for other countries. The African meningitis belt, spanning 26 countries and home to approximately 400 million people, bears the brunt of recurrent meningitis outbreaks. This region faces a three-fold higher burden compared to the global average incidence rate of 35.4 cases per 100,000 population. Vaccination efforts have prevented over 236,000 deaths, underscoring the need for enhanced preventive measures. A recent Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C outbreak in Nigeria resulted in 1,742 suspected meningitis cases, with 101 confirmed instances and 153 fatalities across seven states from October 1, 2023, to March 11, 2024. In response, health authorities initiated a vaccination drive from March 25-28, 2024, targeting over one million individuals between the ages of 1 and 29 years. Nigeria has led the charge as the first country to carry out a massive rollout campaign of the novel Men5CV meningococcal vaccine, with over a million vaccines distributed. This feat has set the pace for other countries in the meningitis belt to incorporate the Men5CV into their expanded programs for immunization (EPI) even as countries align plans with WHO’s roadmap to eradicating meningitis by 2030. Thanks to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. for supporting this course. Deepest appreciation to all the co-authors Olalekan John Okesanya, Daniel Faithful Miebaka MBBCh Mmekom Affia, and Victoria Emeruwa. We thank Le Infezioni in Medicina journal for thoroughly reviewing and publishing this work, and covet your readership and feedback. Link: https://lnkd.in/dyJzH6_G #Meningitis #Vaccine #Gavi #Men5CV

The varicella (chickenpox) vaccine is 1 of 4 common childhood vaccines required for students to enroll in kindergarten in almost every state, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But adults should consider getting the chickenpox vaccine, too. Learn why in a new clinical blog from Primary.Health Medical Director Adi Chandrasekhar, MD, MPH, FACP. https://lnkd.in/gm7hre2C #NAIM #Chickenpox #varicella #shingles #vaccination #healthyschools

I can still remember my first year in university when we were told to go for the meningitis vaccine. Was I afraid of injections? Yes! Did I receive the vaccine? Yes! At that time, I honestly knew nothing about vaccines nor meningitis. They told us it was a vaccine to protect us from meningio- encephalitis. The vaccinators explained that meningitis happens when the tissues around the brain swell, usually due to high temperatures or infection. They described symptoms like a headache, fever, and a stiff neck, and warned us that if not treated, it could cause death. This information got me scared and so I took the vaccine. I forgot about whether or not I needed a booster. Moving forward to June,2024, meningitis became painfully real to me when I lost a colleague to it. He was mismanaged at the health facility. This reminder is even more urgent in light of the current situation in Nigeria. Between 1 October 2023 and 11 March 2024, there has been an outbreak of Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) serogroup C across seven states (Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina, Yobe, Zamfara), This resulted in 1,742 suspected meningitis cases, 101 confirmed cases, and tragically, 153 deaths. Sad how a vaccine preventable disease could claim lives of many. 🤔 Meningitis is the inflammation of the brain and spinal cord tissues. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or even parasites. Bacterial meningitis is the most dangerous—it can kill within 24 hours. Meningitis can affect people of any age. The risk of meningitis is higher when people live in close proximity—places like crowded households, student hostels, mass gatherings, or refugee camps. Factors like immune deficiencies (such as HIV), immunosuppression, and smoking can also increase the chances of contracting the disease. The good news is that #vaccines can prevent meningitis caused by: •Meningococcus •Pneumococcus •Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). What vaccines can prevent against viral meningitis ⁉️ As we mark #WorldMeningitisDay, let’s light the road ahead for meningitis prevention; spread the awareness to those around us about the role of vaccines in preventing the disease. Prevention is easier than cure—vaccines save lives! #worldmeningitisday #vaccineswork #healthpromotion #phoenixgate

#bcg #tuberculosis #endtuberculosis #prevention #icmr #ntep #india 𝐀𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐁𝐂𝐆 𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢a 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 ABOUT THE VACCINATION DRIVE #AdultBCG Vaccination Campaign (#ABVC) is a collaborative effort of #NTEP, the immunization division, and multiple partners. The NTEP at the National, state, and District levels must lead the whole campaign. #Why is it required? In a high burden countries such as India, vaccination will be critical in bringing down TB incidence and mortality, to meet the 𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐁 goals. Numerous researches suggest that BCG vaccination at birth is effective at preventing severe forms of TB in young children and needs to be boosted in adults for sustained immunoprotection. BCG vaccination can be associated with a 36%-46% reduction in the hazard rate of developing TB over 15 years. This BCG vaccine formulation is the same which is given at birth. #InclusionCriteria Any 18-year-plus individual with any of the following criteria and willing to get vaccinated is eligible 1. Age above 60. 2. BMI<18 kg/sq mt 3. Diabetic 4. Current/Past smoker 5. H/O of TB in the past 5 years 6. Close contact with active TB since January 2021 7. Completed ATT with a duration of more than 4 weeks 8. Completed TPT with a duration of more than 4 weeks #ExclusionCriteria 1. Below the age of 18 years 2. PLHIV 3. On immunosuppressive or immunodeficient 4. Pregnant or lactating women 5.H/O of blood transfusion in last 3 months 6. H/O high risk of getting HIV 7. H/O of severe reaction to BCG vaccination 8. Currently sick with some other illness 9. On ATT 10. Not willing to giving consent #Site and #dose of vaccine A single dose at Right upper arm laterally 0.1ml to be given intradermally with a 0.1 ml AD syringe. #Vaccination centers Vaccination will be provided on monthly Ni-kshay Diwas during the adult BCG campaigns at Health wellness centers in 23 selected states in India.