Publications (6)16.75 Total impact
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Article: Hepatitis B immunisation programmes in European Union, Norway and Iceland: where we were in 2009?
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ABSTRACT: In January 2009 25 European Union (EU) Member States (MSs), Norway and Iceland, participated in a survey seeking information on national hepatitis B vaccination programmes. Details of vaccination policy, schedule, population groups targeted for vaccination, programme funding, vaccine coverage and methods of monitoring of vaccine coverage were obtained. Twenty (74%) countries reported that they have a universal hepatitis B vaccination programme, in addition to immunisation of at risk groups; seven (26%) countries recommend HBV for high risk groups only (with some inter-country variation on groups considered at high risk). Among countries without universal hepatitis B vaccination programmes, the major factor for non-introduction is low disease endemicity.Vaccine 05/2010; 28(28):4470-7. · 3.77 Impact Factor -
Article: Economic evaluation of a universal childhood pneumococcal conjugate vaccination strategy in Ireland.
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ABSTRACT: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of implementing a universal infant 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) vaccination program in the Irish health-care setting from the health-care payers' perspective. A model was constructed in MS Excel to follow a cohort of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals from birth over a 5-year period. The reduction in events that would be associated with PCV7 vaccination and the mortality and cost resulting from these events were analyzed. In a separate submodel, the effect of herd immunity was investigated. Implementing a PCV7 vaccine program in Ireland in a birth cohort of 61,000 infants would be expected to prevent 7703 cases of pneumococcal-related infections over 5 years, resulting in costs avoided of 2.05 million euros increasing to 4.6 million euros if the effect of herd immunity was included. The baseline incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was 249,591 euros/life years gained (LYG), which reduced to 5997 euros/LYG when the effect of herd immunity was included. A universal infant pneumococcal conjugate vaccination could be considered highly cost-effective in the Irish health-care setting from a health-care payers' perspective, if viewed in terms of the herd immunity effect. The results of this study have positive ramifications for countries in the early stages of health technology assessment.Value in Health 06/2008; 11(5):898-903. · 2.19 Impact Factor -
Article: Towards elimination: measles susceptibility in Australia and 17 European countries.
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ABSTRACT: To evaluate age-specific measles susceptibility in Australia and 17 European countries. As part of the European Sero-Epidemiology Network 2 (ESEN2), 18 countries collected large national serum banks between 1996 and 2004. These banks were tested for measles IgG and the results converted to a common unitage to enable valid intercountry comparisons. Historical vaccination and disease incidence data were also collected. Age-stratified population susceptibility levels were compared to WHO European Region targets for measles elimination of < 15% in those aged 2-4 years, < 10% in 5-9-year-olds and < 5% in older age groups. Seven countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden) met or came very close to the elimination targets. Four countries (Australia, Israel, Lithuania and Malta) had susceptibility levels above WHO targets in some older age groups indicating possible gaps in protection. Seven countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, England and Wales, Ireland, Latvia and Romania) were deemed to be at risk of epidemics as a result of high susceptibility in children and also, in some cases, adults. Although all countries now implement a two-dose measles vaccination schedule, if the WHO European Region target of measles elimination by 2010 is to be achieved higher routine coverage as well as vaccination campaigns in some older age cohorts are needed in some countries. Without these improvements, continued measles transmission and outbreaks are expected in Europe.Bulletin of the World Health Organisation 03/2008; 86(3):197-204. · 4.64 Impact Factor -
Article: Increased influenza activity in Ireland, January 2005.
Euro surveillance: bulletin europeen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin 02/2005; 10(1):E050120.3. · 6.15 Impact Factor -
Article: Hepatitis B immunisation programmes in European Union, Norway and Iceland: Where we were in 2009?
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: In January 2009 25 European Union (EU) Member States (MSs), Norway and Iceland, participated in a survey seeking information on national hepatitis B vaccination programmes. Details of vaccination policy, schedule, population groups targeted for vaccination, programme funding, vaccine coverage and methods of monitoring of vaccine coverage were obtained. Twenty (74%) countries reported that they have a universal hepatitis B vaccination programme, in addition to immunisation of at risk groups; seven (26%) countries recommend HBV for high risk groups only (with some inter-country variation on groups considered at high risk). Among countries without universal hepatitis B vaccination programmes, the major factor for non-introduction is low disease endemicity.Vaccine. -
Article: Towards measles elimination: measles susceptibility in seventeen European countries and Australia
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ABSTRACT: Objective To evaluate age-specific measles susceptibility in 17 European countries and Australia. Methods As part of the European Sero-Epidemiology Network 2 (ESEN2), 18 countries collected large national serum banks between 1996 and 2004. These banks were tested for measles IgG and the results converted to a common unitage to enable valid intercountry comparisons. Historical vaccination and disease incidence data were also collected. Age-stratified population susceptibility levels were compared to WHO European Region targets for measles elimination of < 15% in those aged 2–4 years, < 10% in 5 –9 year olds and < 5% in older age groups. Findings Seven countries (Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Spain, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden) met or came very close to the elimination targets. Four countries (Australia, Israel, Lithuania and Malta) had susceptibility levels above WHO targets in some older age groups indicating possible gaps in protection. Seven countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, England & Wales, Ireland, Latvia and Romania) were deemed to be at risk of epidemics as a result of high susceptibility in children and also, in some cases, adults. Conclusion Although all countries now implement a two-dose measles vaccination schedule, if the WHO European Region target of measles elimination by 2010 is to be achieved higher routine coverage as well as vaccination campaigns in some older age cohorts are needed in some countries. Without these improvements, continued measles transmission and outbreaks are expected in Europe.
