Olutoun Sanusi-Oladunni (B. Pharm, MBA)’s Post

💉Exploring the ripple effects of BCG Vaccination! The August issue of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal highlights a fascinating new study: "The Impact of Infant Bacille Calmette-Guérin Vaccination on the Immunogenicity of Other Vaccines: A Randomized Exploratory Study." 🔬 Early administration of the BCG vaccine, known for protecting against tuberculosis, may boost the immune response to the serogroup C meningococcal (MenC) vaccine and other routine vaccines in infants. This could reshape how we approach vaccination timing in infancy, potentially optimizing protection against multiple infections early in life. ➡️ Dive into the full study: https://bit.ly/3X573tS #paediatricinfectiousdiseases #vaccinestudy #pidjournal #ESPID

𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲? Our Evidence Review and Synthesis team recently published two systematic reviews about the impact of streptococcus pneumoniae in Europe. 📖         In April 2024, Quantify’s Helena Skröder Löveborn and Nicholas Norton published a study quantifying the burden of acute otitis media (AOM) caused by S. pneumoniae, after widespread use of PCVs. The review found evidence of reductions in hospitalizations and antibiotic resistance following extensive use of PCVs, implying a reduction in economic burden, though further economic evidence is needed to confirm. However, there were no homogenous trends in the overall incidence across countries, and there was also evidence of a shift in serotype distributions towards non-vaccine serotypes, suggesting persistence in the burden of S. pneumoniae. 📖         In December 2023, Quantify’s Dr. Stuti Arya, Nicholas Norton and Puneet Kaushik published a study assessing recent changes to adult national immunization programs for pneumococcal vaccination and attempting to determine how those changes impacted coverage in European adults. The review revealed evidence of a convergence towards immunization programs involving sequential vaccination with a higher-valency conjugate vaccine (PCV) followed by the polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23), with a common aim of reducing economic burden. Where data was available, better coverage rates were seen in most cases where countries had expanded their programs to cover at-risk populations. Both reviews criticized the lack of consistent and standardized evidence across Europe and recommended more widespread use of surveillance systems for protecting at-risk populations. For more information and links to the articles, please head over to our website! https://lnkd.in/dZdC7JhH https://lnkd.in/d2UQFwUD Quantify Research info@quantifyresearch.com www.quantifyresearch.com

Vaccine-Preventable Diseases: A Heavy Burden on Africa's Health Background: Vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) remain a significant public health challenge in Africa, disproportionately affecting children. These diseases, like measles, pneumonia, and polio, are largely preventable through widespread vaccination. Current Situation: Despite progress in immunization programs, Africa still grapples with high VPD prevalence. Limited access to vaccines, logistical challenges, and vaccine hesitancy hinder optimal coverage. Furthermore, outbreaks like measles and polio resurface due to these vulnerabilities. Pressing Challenges: Equity and access: Geographic disparities and weak healthcare systems in remote areas leave many children unvaccinated. Vaccine hesitancy: Misinformation and distrust in vaccines create pockets of low immunization coverage. Emerging threats: Climate change and population growth can contribute to the spread of VPDs. Possible Solutions: Strengthen routine immunization programs: Invest in infrastructure, cold chain logistics, and healthcare worker training. Combat vaccine hesitancy: Address misinformation through clear communication and community engagement. Local vaccine production: Increase regional self-sufficiency for faster and more affordable vaccines. Surveillance and outbreak response: Strengthen disease surveillance systems and rapid response mechanisms. Conclusion: Prioritizing VPD control through robust immunization programs is essential. By addressing existing challenges and implementing innovative solutions, Africa can significantly reduce the burden of these preventable diseases and create a healthier future for all. References: 1. World Health Organization. (2023). African Region Immunization Coverage Estimates 2023. https://lnkd.in/ednCcM7C 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Vaccine Preventable Diseases: Global Health Challenges. https://lnkd.in/eSwVVYHy

AMR Awareness Month: Addressing the Dual Challenge of Antimicrobial Resistance and Vaccine Hesitancy 💊💉 As I read throughout the daily reminders of Kuete Chanelle, AMR Expert (In view), I learned so much about AMR and AMR Stewardship. November marks Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Month, a time to spotlightone of our era's most critical global health challengesa. While AMR threatens the efficacy of life-saving treatments, vaccine hesitancy further exacerbates the problem by leaving populations vulnerable to preventable infections. 🔍 The Link Between AMR and Vaccine Hesitancy: Vaccinesare crucial in reducing reliance on antibiotics by preventing bacterial infections, such as pneumococcal diseases, that often lead to misuse or overuse of antimicrobials. However, vaccine hesitancy—a reluctance or refusal to vaccinate despite availability—creates a significant barrier to these preventive measures, fueling the AMR crisis. 💡 Why Vaccines are Key in the Fight Against AMR: Preventing infections reduces antibiotic demand and slows resistance. Vaccines help control the spread of resistant pathogens like Typhoid and TB. Routine immunization can strengthen herd immunity, protecting vulnerable populations. 📣 Call to Action: As experts in AMR, vaccines, and public health, how can we address this dual challenge? What innovative strategies are bridging the gap between vaccine hesitancy and AMR prevention? How can we better engage communities to rebuild trust in vaccines and promote antimicrobial stewardship? Drop your insights, experiences, and solutions in the comments! Let’s collaborate to shape a stronger, unified response to these intersecting crises. The International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS) Antimicrobial Resistance Fighter Coalition African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative (AVMI) #AMR #VaccinesWork #VaccineHesitancy #AntimicrobialResistance #PublicHealth #GlobalHealth

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐃𝐅 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐂𝐆 𝐕𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 📚 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐨 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐏𝐃𝐅: https://lnkd.in/d8jZbA73 The BCG vaccine, short for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, is a vital tool in the fight against childhood tuberculosis (TB). 🔰 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭: Early Protection: Given soon after birth, the BCG vaccine offers some protection against severe forms of TB, especially meningitis and miliary TB, which can be life-threatening in children. Targeted Approach: The vaccine is most effective in countries with high TB prevalence, where children are at greater risk of exposure. Simple and Safe: The BCG vaccine is a single-dose injection with a well-established safety profile. 🔰 𝐇𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞: Limited Protection: The BCG vaccine doesn't prevent all TB infections, and its effectiveness varies geographically. Booster Not Required: Unlike some vaccines, the BCG vaccine doesn't require booster shots. Despite limitations, the BCG vaccine remains an important public health measure in reducing the burden of childhood TB. #vaccines #bcg #BCGVaccines #medicaldevices 📚 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐃𝐅 🢂 https://lnkd.in/d8jZbA73

💉 𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐘 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐕𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒 𝐒𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 50 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐒? Vaccines have saved 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 150 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬  in the past five decades—that’s 6 lives saved every minute, according to a WHO study published in𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘵. This research underscores that vaccines are among the most powerful tools in global health, protecting millions of children and helping them not only reach their first birthday but also grow into healthy adults. Among the 14 major vaccines analyzed—including those against diphtheria, measles, tetanus, tuberculosis, yellow fever, meningitis, and polio—the measles vaccine alone has prevented nearly 94 million deaths, reducing global child mortality by 40% and child deaths in Africa by more than half. 🦠 𝘞𝘏𝘐𝘊𝘏 𝘋𝘐𝘚𝘌𝘈𝘚𝘌𝘚 𝘊𝘈𝘕 𝘉𝘌 𝘗𝘙𝘌𝘝𝘌𝘕𝘛𝘌𝘋? Today, thanks to advances in research, vaccines have changed the course of many diseases. Vaccines now protect against smallpox, polio, measles, tetanus, hepatitis B, whooping cough, meningitis, chickenpox, mumps, and rubella. More recently, vaccines are available to prevent human papillomavirus infections, which are linked to cancers of the cervix, , and head and neck. 🌍 𝘊𝘖𝘝𝘐𝘋-19 𝘝𝘈𝘊𝘊𝘐𝘕𝘌: 𝘈 𝘔𝘖𝘋𝘌𝘙𝘕 𝘓𝘐𝘍𝘌𝘚𝘈𝘝𝘌𝘙 The COVID-19 vaccine has been a remarkable addition, 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 1.4 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 (WHO). Beyond reducing death and severe illness, it has relieved pressure on healthcare systems and allowed societies to regain some normalcy. 🌟 𝘝𝘈𝘊𝘊𝘐𝘕𝘌𝘚: 𝘉𝘌𝘠𝘖𝘕𝘋 𝘗𝘙𝘌𝘝𝘌𝘕𝘛𝘐𝘖𝘕 Vaccines not only save lives but also dramatically improve quality of life. Immunization has eradicated smallpox and nearly eliminated polio, with the polio vaccine alone allowing 20 million people to avoid paralysis. In 50 years, vaccines have collectively 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐝 10.2 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞. Vaccination isn’t just about fighting diseases; it’s about creating a healthier, brighter future for us all. #VaccinesSaveLives #GlobalHealth #Immunization #PublicHealth #FutureOfHealth