This week, two investigations being published in peer-reviewed journals, examine worldwide vaccination policies. In addition the studies use worldwide vaccination provision data that until now had not been available.

The first one, published in Vaccine, reveals that even though influenza vaccine provision has increased, worldwide levels remain low and the speed of growth is slowing.

Just 20% of countries managed to achieve the conservative threshold of the study, which is based on immunization recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Increased coverage is not driven only by official vaccination recommendations; instead public health policies with a direct impact on patients, such as reimbursement policies and effective communication, are linked to increased levels of seasonal influenza vaccination. These factors seemed to be considerably more important than United Nations (UN) development status, which does not seem to relate directly to coverage levels.

The second investigation demonstrates the global wide-spread health authority support for healthcare worker immunization. The second study is being published in the International Nursing Review.

The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) provided the novel data for the two studies. Even though seasonal influenza is a significant burden on public health, with more than 40% of national governments suggesting vaccination of individuals at risk, there have been no systematic global data available in order to evaluate vaccine provision nor does the effect of immunization police. Due to this, the IFPMA collected worldwide vaccine supple data for 157 countries between the years 2004-2009.

Researchers of the IFPMA assessment published in Vaccine measured global seasonal influenza vaccine provision. The team discovered that in order to meet vaccination recommendations issued by public health Authorities and Organizations, such as WHO, coverage needs to continue to increase significantly. Findings indicate that worldwide vaccine supple rose by more than 70% to 449 million doses between 2004-2009, however out of the 157 study countries; only 20% met the study’s low threshold level.

The threshold level was based on WHO seasonal influenza immunization recommendation for only elderly individuals, and did not include other groups at risk.

Dr. Lance C. Jennings, Clinical Associate Professor, Canterbury Health Laboratories & Pathology Department, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand, explained:

“Protecting communities around the world against the ongoing threat posed by seasonal influenza is an important public health goal. The growth seen in vaccination levels in recent years is encouraging, but coverage rates do not meet local official immunization targets in many countries.

Therefore, the results of this new IFPMA study, showing that effective communication and reimbursement policies help improve uptake irrespective of national development status, are particularly welcome.”

The investigation demonstrated that globally, vaccine provision was uneven, and that many less developed countries, particularly in Latin America, achieved higher coverage levels than several more developed nations, notably in Southern and Eastern Europe.

After a sub-group examination of 26 countries was conducted, the results indicated that countries’ development status as well as the inclusion of influenza vaccine in official recommendations did not seem to correlate well with vaccine provision. In contrast, higher correlations with large-scale communication activities and reimbursement were demonstrated with vaccine uptake.

Several nations carry out yearly immunization campaigns and recommend seasonal influenza vaccine for individuals most at risk. Even though global vaccine use is rising, the growth rate is slowing, and very few nations manage to achieve significant levels of vaccine coverage.

In order to protect populations against the treat of influenza it is essential to continue and speed up the growth in vaccine uptake. According to the IFPMA the opportunity exists to achieve this goal. Strong measures that connect directly with patients, such as the use of effective communications and financial support for vaccination, can enhance the efficacy of local immunization policies, regardless of nations UN development status.

According to the second IFPMA investigation published in the International Nursing Review, public health authorities around the globe officially advise as well as financially support seasonal influenza vaccination for healthcare workers. The ratio of nations backing healthcare worker immunization was comparable to that targeting “traditional” risk groups. It has been noted that the health authority’s support to vaccinate did not compare with national UN development status.

Dr. Kristin L. Nichol, Associate Chief of Staff for Research, Minneapolis VA Medical Center Professor of Medicine, University of Minnesota, explained:

“Public health experts around the world are increasingly calling for routine influenza vaccination of healthcare professionals, to protect the workers themselves, their families and colleagues, and most importantly their patients.

Seasonal influenza poses a serious threat, causing potentially life-threatening infections in seriously ill patients, and staff absences that can disrupt healthcare services and increase costs. In contrast, healthcare worker vaccination can enhance patient safety, reduce workplace absence and provide savings for healthcare organizations.”

Dr. Nichol continued:

“Increasing immunization rates is an important priority, and robust policy measures, such as education, providing easy access to vaccines and formally documenting workers’ vaccination status can help achieve this. The results of this new IFPMA research are therefore particularly encouraging, because they show official support for healthcare worker immunization is wide-spread, including in less developed countries, and is not simply determined by national wealth.”

The IFPMA data surveyed 26 nations taken from each region of the world. The investigation discovered that:

  • 88% of the nations suggested healthcare worker vaccination.
  • 92% recommended immunization for individuals with cardiovascular, disease chronic pulmonary or metabolic diseases.
  • 96% recommended vaccinations for elderly individuals.

In these nations, there was no obvious association with development status, as defined by the UN classification, with 92% of more developed countries and 83% of less developed nations advising healthcare worker immunization.

Written by Grace Rattue