Education & training
Update on herpes zoster vaccination: A family practitioner's guide
The objective of this Update is to answer frequently asked questions surrounding the use of the herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine.
Update on the success of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
Several years after the seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was introduced in Canada and elsewhere, routine infant vaccination has led to near eradication of invasive pneumococcal disease caused by vaccine serotype strains in both children and adults. There have also been significant declines in pneumococcal- related disease including lobar pneumonia and otitis media. These declines have been offset, to some extent, by increases in nonvaccine serotype disease. Serotype 19A, which is often highly resistant to antibiotics, has become predominant. In most populations, however, the magnitude of replacement disease is much lower than the magnitude of decline in invasive pneumococcal disease with the use of PCV7. There is increasing evidence that three PCV7 doses provide protection that is nearly identical to that of four doses. New 10-valent and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines were recently approved in Canada. These vaccines increase pneumococcal serotype coverage including serotype 19A (present in the 13-valent vaccine). Many provinces and territories have incorporated the 13-valent vaccine in their vaccination programs.
An Interesting Presentation of Pediatric Tetanus
Despite successful large scale immunization programs in North America, there remains a significant population without active immunity to tetanus toxins because immunizations have been refused or delayed, and because of waning immunity. We report the case of a 7-year old boy who presented to the emergency department with a chin laceration and a 7-day history of repeated falls of increasing frequency. We found this case to be associated with dysphagia and facial spasm, and we learned that the child had dropped a brick on his foot 2 weeks previously. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with tetanus and treated accordingly. Tetanus presentations to emergency departments may vary from mild muscular rigidity to advanced respiratory failure and thus clinicians should consider the diagnosis in various clinical presentations, especially in areas remote from advanced supportive care.
Déclaration sur l'utilisation recommandée du vaccin contre le virus de l'herpès zoster
La présente déclaration fournit des recommandations pour l’utilisation de ZostavaxMC chez les adultes canadiens. À mesure que de nouveaux renseignements concernant ZostavaxMC et le fardeau de la maladie seront accessibles, ces recommandations seront révisées. Les questions relatives à la rentabilité, à l’acceptabilité et à la faisabilité des programmes de vaccination seront étudiées par d’autres groupes provinciaux ou fédéraux.
Randomized trial of a program to increase staff influenza vaccination in primary care clinics
Although vaccination of health care workers against influenza is widely recommended, vaccination uptake is low. Data on interventions to increase staff immunization in primary care are lacking. We examine the effect of a promotional and educational intervention program, not addressing vaccine availability, to raise the influenza vaccination rate among staff in primary care clinics.
Seasonal influenza vaccination campaigns for health care personnel : systematic review
In Canada, vaccination coverage for seasonal influenza among health care personnel remains below 50%. The objective of this review was to determine which seasonal influenza vaccination campaign or campaign components in health care settings were significantly associated with increases in influenza vaccination among staff.
Statement on the recommended use of Herpes zoster vaccine
This statement provides recommendations for use of Zostavax in Canadian adults. As new information regarding Zostavax and/or the burden of illness becomes available, the recommendations will be reviewed. Issues including cost-effectiveness, acceptability of vaccine programs, and feasibility will be addressed by other provincial or federal groups.
Vaccinology Jeopardy
Game in PowerPoint format, to test your knowledge.
A postmodern Pandora's box : anti-vaccination misinformation on the Internet
This paper analyzes the arguments proffered on anti-vaccination websites, determining the extent of misinformation present, and examines discourses used to support vaccine objections. Arguments around the themes of safety and effectiveness, alternative medicine, civil liberties, conspiracy theories, and morality were found on the majority of websites analyzed.
Immunisation, infections et le rôle de l'école dans la vaccination
L'immunisation des enfants et des jeunes en milieu scolaire est considérée à nouveau comme une mesure économique et avantageuse tant pour la santé que pour le rendement scolaire. Le présent article examine certaines données probantes, commente des expériences au Canada et dans d'autres pays et mentionne quelques bons programmes.