Seroprevalence of antibodies against Taenia solium cysticerci among refugees resettled in United States

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a disease caused by central nervous system infection by the larval stage of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. In developing countries, NCC is a leading cause of adult-onset epilepsy. Case reports of NCC are increasing among refugees resettled to the United States and other nations, but the underlying prevalence among refugee groups is unknown. We tested stored serum samples from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Migrant Serum Bank for antibodies against T. solium cysts by using the enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot. Seroprevalence was high among all 4 populations tested: refugees from Burma (23.2%), Lao People's Democratic Republic (18.3%), Bhutan (22.8%), and Burundi (25.8%). Clinicians caring for refugee populations should suspect NCC in patients with seizure, chronic headache, or unexplained neurologic manifestations. Improved understanding of the prevalence of epilepsy and other associated diseases among refugees could guide recommendations for their evaluation and treatment before, during, and after resettlement.     

全球和中国第一阶段脊髓灰质炎野病毒封存进展

脊髓灰质炎(脊灰)野病毒的实验室封存是全球消灭脊灰最后阶段最主要的策略之一。历史经验表明,脊灰野病毒广泛存在,并有可能发生实验室感染事件。绝对的脊灰野病毒封存不可能证实,脊灰野病毒封存的目标是最大限度地减少脊灰野病毒由实验室向社区环境扩散。有效的封存要有标准的客观评估方法和实施过程评估方法。目前全球已有112个国家和地区完成第一阶段脊灰野病毒的封存,中国已完成第一阶段第一步脊灰野病毒封存。     

Poliovirus immunity among children under five years-old in accessible areas of Afghanistan, 2013

Background

Afghanistan remains among the three countries with endemic wild poliovirus transmission, and high population immunity levels are required to interrupt transmission and prevent outbreaks. Surveillance and vaccination of children in Afghanistan have been challenging due to security issues limiting accessibility in certain areas.

Vaccine delivery to newly arrived refugees and estimated costs in selected U.S. clinics, 2015

BackgroundNewly arrived refugees are offered vaccinations during domestic medical examinations. Vaccination practices and costs for refugees have not been described with recent implementation of the overseas Vaccination Program for U.S.-bound Refugees (VPR). We describe refugee vaccination during the domestic medical examination and the estimated vaccination costs from the US government perspective in selected U.S. clinics.MethodsSite-specific vaccination processes and costs were collected from 16 clinics by refugee health partners in three states and one private academic institution. Vaccination costs were estimated from the U.S. Vaccines for Children Program and Medicaid reimbursement rates during fiscal year 2015.ResultsAll clinics reviewed overseas vaccination records before vaccinating, but all records were not transferred into state immunization systems. Average vaccination costs per refugee varied from $120 to $211 by site. The total average cost of domestic vaccination was 15% less among refugees arriving from VPR- vs. nonVPR-participating countries during a single domestic visit.ConclusionOur findings indicate that immunization practices and costs vary between clinics, and that clinics adapted their vaccination practices to accommodate VPR doses, yielding potential cost savings.     

Difficulty in the food environment and the experience of food insecurity among refugees resettled in the United States

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence and correlates of food insecurity in 281 refugees resettled in the United States. Participants were recruited through a resettlement center and word of mouth. In addition to measures of socioeconomic status, education, time in the U.S., and food insecurity, we also measured individual difficulty in navigating the food environment using a food difficulty scale. Only 23% of the sample did not endorse any of the food insecurity items. Nearly half of the sample also noted difficulty in navigating the food environment. Food insecurity scores above the median were predicted by both income and non-income variables. In a multivariable logistic model, income and having more than one year of education were associated with lower food insecurity (p < .05), while "difficulty in the food environment" was associated with high food insecurity (p < .01). Results suggest that income is an important constraint but that non-income variables may also be important determinants of food insecurity.     

Safety,tolerability, and immunogenicity of inactivated poliovirus vaccine with or without E.coli double mutant heat-labile toxin (dmLT) adjuvant in healthy adults; a phase 1 randomized study

BackgroundInactivated trivalent poliovirus vaccine (IPV) induces humoral immunity, which protects against paralytic poliomyelitis but does not induce sufficient mucosal immunity to block intestinal infection. We assessed the intestinal immunity in healthy adults in Belgium conferred by a co-formulation of IPV with the mucosal adjuvant double mutant Labile Toxin (dmLT) derived from Escherichia coli.MethodsHealthy fully IPV-vaccinated 18–45-year-olds were randomly allocated to three groups: on Day 1 two groups received one full dose of IPV (n = 30) or IPV + dmLT (n = 30) in a blinded manner, and the third received an open-label dose of bivalent live oral polio vaccine (bOPV types 1 and 3, n = 20). All groups received a challenge dose of bOPV on Day 29. Participants reported solicited and unsolicited adverse events (AE) using study diaries. Mucosal immune responses were measured by fecal neutralization and IgA on Days 29 and 43, with fecal shedding of challenge viruses measured for 28 days. Humoral responses were measured by serum neutralizing antibody (NAb).ResultsSolicited and unsolicited AEs were mainly mild-to-moderate and transient in all groups, with no meaningful differences in rates between groups. Fecal shedding of challenge viruses in both IPV groups exceeded that of the bOPV group but was not different between IPV and IPV + dmLT groups. High serum NAb responses were observed in both IPV groups, alongside modest levels of fecal neutralization and IgA.ConclusionsAddition of dmLT to IPV administered intramuscularly neither affected humoral nor intestinal immunity nor decreased fecal virus shedding following bOPV challenge. The tolerability of the dose of dmLT used in this study may allow higher doses to be investigated for impact on mucosal immunity.Registered on ClinicalTrials.gov - NCT04232943.     

Two sides of the same coin: Factors that support and challenge the wellbeing of refugees resettled in a small urban center

For refugees who undergo permanent resettlement, characteristics of the resettlement context influence their ability to heal from pre-migration persecution and achieve a sense of wellbeing. This ethnographic study examines the impact of place-related determinants on the sense of wellbeing experienced by refugees resettled in a small urban center. The paper reports on the results of in-depth interviews that were conducted with ten former refugees in St. John's, Canada. We found that challenges and coping resources both emerged from the same aspects of the city, including its built environment, natural environment, history, culture, and low ethnic diversity. Future research should attend to how aspects of the resettlement context can simultaneously challenge and support refugees’ sense of wellbeing.     

Analysis of the profitability of adult vaccination in 13 private provider practices in the United States

Vaccination coverage among adults remains low in the United States. Understanding the barriers to provision of adult vaccination is an important step to increasing vaccination coverage and improving public health. To better understand financial factors that may affect practice decisions about adult vaccination, this study sought to understand how costs compared with payments for adult vaccinations in a sample of U.S. physician practices. We recruited a convenience sample of 19 practices in nine states in 2017. We conducted a time-motion study to assess the time costs of vaccination activities and conducted a survey of practice managers to assess materials, management, and dose costs and payments for vaccination. We received complete cost and payment data from 13 of the 19 practices. We calculated annual income from vaccination services by comparing estimated costs with payments received for vaccine doses and vaccine administration. Median annual total income from vaccination services was $90,343 at family medicine practices (range: $3968–$249,628), $28,267 at internal medicine practices (−$32,659–$141,034) and $2886 at obstetrics and gynecology practices (−$73,451–$23,820). Adult vaccination was profitable at the median of our sample, but there is wide variation in profitability due to differences in costs and payment rates across practices. This study provides evidence on the financial viability of adult vaccination and supports actions for improving financial viability. These results can help inform practices’ decisions whether to provide adult vaccines and contribute to keeping adults up-to-date with the recommended vaccination schedule.     

Immunogenicity and safety of different sequential schedules of Sabin strain-based inactivated poliovirus vaccination: A randomized,controlled, open-label,phase IV clinical trial in China

BackgroundThe immunogenicity and safety of the sequential schedule of Sabin strain-based inactivated poliovirus vaccine (sIPV) and bivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (bOPV) remains poorly understood in Chinese population.MethodsA multi-center, open-label, randomized controlled trial was performed involving 648 healthy infants aged 2 months from Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, and Hebei provinces. These participants were divided into three groups: sIPV-bOPV-bOPV, sIPV-sIPV-bOPV, and sIPV-sIPV-sIPV. Doses were administered sequentially at age 2, 3, and 4 months. Neutralisation assays were tested using sera collected at 2 months and 5 months.ResultsA total of 569 were included in the per-protocol analysis. The seroconversion rates of poliovirus type 1 and 3 were 100% in all three groups, the seroconversion rate of poliovirus type 2 was 91.53% (173/189) (95% CI: 86.62–95.08) in the sIPV-bOPV-bOPV group, 98.38% (182/185) (95% CI: 95.33–99.66) in the sIPV-sIPV-bOPV group, and 99.49% (194/195) (95% CI: 97.18–99.99) in the sIPV-sIPV-sIPV group. For the seroconversion rate of poliovirus types 1 and 3, the sIPV-bOPV-bOPV and sIPV-sIPV-bOPV groups were non-inferior to the sIPV-sIPV-sIPV group. For the seroconversion rate of poliovirus type 2, the sIPV-sIPV-bOPV group was non-inferior to the sIPV-sIPV-sIPV group, and the sIPV-bOPV-bOPV group was inferior to the sIPV-sIPV-sIPV group. All three groups exhibited good safety, with two serious adverse events reported, that were unrelated to vaccine.ConclusionsIn china, a new vaccination schedule that including 2 doses of IPV in the national immunization programs is essential.Trial registration ClinicalTrials.govNCT04054492.     

四川省脊髓灰质炎Ⅰ型野毒株的分子病毒学检测

１９９１年安岳县和１９９２年会东县各１例临床诊断为脊髓灰质炎（脊灰）的患者，从其粪便标本中各分离出１株病毒，血清学定型均为脊灰Ⅰ型病毒，经ＰＣＲ－ＲＦＬＰ（Ｐｏｌｙｍｅｒａｓｅ　Ｃｈａｉｎ　Ｒｅａｃｔｉｏｎ－ＲｅｓｔｒｉｃｔｉｏｎＦｒａｇｍｅｎｔＬｅｎｇｔｈＰｏｌｙｍｏｒｐｈｉｓｍ　ａｓｓａｙ）法检测，２株病毒与Ｓａｂｉｎ　Ⅰ有明显差异定为Ⅰ型野毒株。又经核酸序列测定，其与Ｓａｂｉｎ　Ⅰ型疫苗株亦有明显的差异，证实为脊灰互型野毒株。结果显示，不同年份、不同地方流行株间的序列有差异。四川省脊灰流行与毒株间核酸序列的差异有关，但我国现行疫苗ＯＰＶ（ＯｒａｌＰｏｌｉｏＶａｃｃｉｎｅ）能有效预防我省脊灰，基础兔疫和强化免疫是预防和消灭脊灰的有力武器。     

贵州省2004年分离到的脊髓灰质炎病毒分子生物学特征

目的研究贵州省2004年分离到的脊髓灰质炎(脊灰)病毒分子生物学特征。方法对贵州省2004年分离到的所有脊灰病毒,用聚合酶链反应-限制性酶切片段长度多态性分析(PCR-RFLP)和酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)法进行了型内鉴定,并对型内鉴定异常株进行了VP1区的序列测定。结果贵州省在2004年急性弛缓性麻痹(AFP)病例及接触者、流动人口和健康儿童的粪便标本中,共有95例分离到脊灰病毒。其中Ⅰ型22例,Ⅱ型26例,Ⅲ型21例,混合型19例,脊灰病毒混合非脊灰肠道病毒7例。经用PCR-RFLP和ELISA方法进行型内鉴定,共有16株病毒与疫苗株病毒存在差异,其中3株脊灰病毒与疫苗株病毒在PCR-RFLP图谱上有差异[其中1株同时为双反应(DRV)],3株ELISA结果为DRV,11株ELISA结果为非疫苗类似株(NSL)。在这些型内鉴定异常株病毒中,Ⅰ型13株,Ⅱ型3株。对这16株脊灰病毒进行VP1区序列测定,发现9株Ⅰ型疫苗衍生脊灰病毒(VDPV)和1株Ⅱ型VDPV。结论根据对贵州省2004年从95例AFP病例及接触者、流动人口、健康儿童分离的脊灰病毒的血清定型结果和型内鉴定结果及对13株Ⅰ型和8株Ⅱ型脊灰病毒VP1区核苷酸序列测定证实,脊灰减毒活疫苗病毒在人群的循环导致疫苗病毒神经毒力恢复突变。通过AFP病例监测系统及时发现了Ⅰ型VDPV的循环和Ⅱ型VDPV。对2004年下半年脊灰病毒基因特点的分析,提示贵州省已经阻断了Ⅰ型VDPV的循环。     

Vaccination benefits and cost-sharing policy for non-institutionalized adult Medicaid enrollees in the United States

Medicaid is the largest funding source of health services for the poorest people in the United States. Medicaid enrollees have greater health care, needs, and higher health risks than other individuals in the country and, experience disproportionately low rates of preventive care. Without, Medicaid coverage, poor uninsured adults may not be vaccinated or would, rely on publicly-funded programs that provide vaccinations. We examined each programs’ policies related to benefit coverage and, copayments for adult enrollees. Our study was completed between October 2011 and September 2012 using a document review and a survey of Medicaid administrators that assessed coverage and cost-sharing policy for fee-for-service programs. Results were compared to a similar review, conducted in 2003. Over the past 10 years, Medicaid programs have typically maintained or expanded vaccination coverage benefits for adults and nearly half have explicitly prohibited copayments. The 17 programs that cover all recommended vaccines while prohibiting, copayments demonstrate a commitment to providing increased access to vaccinations for adult enrollees. When developing responses to fiscal and political challenges, the programs that do not cover all ACIP recommended adult vaccines or those that permit copayments for vaccinations, should consider all strategies to increase vaccinations and reduce costs to enrollees.     

Awareness among adults of vaccine-preventable diseases and recommended vaccinations,United States, 2015

BackgroundAdults are recommended to receive select vaccinations based on their age, underlying medical conditions, lifestyle, and other considerations. Factors associated with awareness of vaccine-preventable diseases and recommended vaccines among adults in the United States have not been explored.MethodsData from a 2015 internet panel survey of a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults aged ≥19 years were analyzed to assess awareness of selected vaccine-preventable diseases and recommended vaccines for adults. A multivariable logistic regression model with a predictive marginal approach was used to identify factors independently associated with awareness of selected vaccine-preventable infections/diseases and corresponding vaccines.ResultsAmong the surveyed population, from 24.6 to 72.1% reported vaccination for recommended vaccines. Awareness of vaccine-preventable diseases among adults aged ≥19 years ranged from 63.4% to 94.0% (63.4% reported awareness of HPV, 71.5% reported awareness of tetanus, 72.0% reported awareness of pertussis, 75.4% reported awareness of HZ, 75.8% reported awareness of hepatitis B, 83.1% reported awareness of pneumonia, and 94.0% reported awareness of influenza). Awareness of the corresponding vaccines among adults aged ≥19 years ranged from 59.3% to 94.1% (59.3% HZ vaccine, 59.6% HPV vaccine, 64.3% hepatitis B vaccine, 66.2% pneumococcal vaccine, 86.3% tetanus vaccines, and 94.1% influenza vaccine). In multivariable analysis, being female and being a college graduate were significantly associated with a higher level of awareness for majority of vaccine-preventable diseases, and being female, being a college graduate, and working as a health care provider were significantly associated with a higher level of awareness for majority of corresponding vaccines.ConclusionsAlthough adults in this survey reported high levels of awareness for most vaccines recommended for adults, self-reported vaccination coverage was not optimal. Combining interventions known to increase uptake of recommended vaccines, such as patient reminder/recall systems and other healthcare system-based interventions, and ensuring patients’ vaccination needs are assessed, are needed to improve vaccination of adults.     

Factors associated with human papillomavirus vaccination among young adult women in the United States

Background

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is recommended to protect against HPV-related diseases.

Objective

To estimate HPV vaccine coverage and assess factors associated with vaccine awareness, initiation and receipt of 3 doses among women age 18–30 years.

Methods

Data from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey were analyzed to assess associations of HPV vaccination among women age 18–26 (n = 1866) and 27–30 years (n = 1028) with previous HPV exposure, cervical cancer screening and selected demographic, health care and behavioral characteristics using bivariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression.

Results

Overall, 23.2% of women age 18–26 and 6.7% of women age 27–30 years reported receiving at least 1 dose of HPV vaccine. In multivariable analyses among women age 18–26 years, not being married, having a regular physician, seeing a physician or obstetrician/gynecologist in the past year, influenza vaccination in the past year, and receipt of other recommended vaccines were associated with HPV vaccination. One-third of unvaccinated women age 18–26 years (n = 490) were interested in receiving HPV vaccine. Among women who were not interested in receiving HPV vaccine (n = 920), the main reasons reported included: not needing the vaccine (41.3%); concerns about safety of the vaccine (12.5%); not knowing enough about the vaccine (11.9%); not being sexually active (8.2%); a doctor not recommending the vaccine (7.6%); and already having HPV (2.7%). Among women with health insurance, 10 or more physician contacts within the past year and no contraindications, 74.5% reported not receiving HPV vaccine.

Conclusions

HPV vaccination coverage among women age 18–26 years remains low. Opportunities to vaccinate are missed. Healthcare providers can play an important role in educating young women about HPV and encouraging vaccination. Successful public health and educational interventions will need to address physician attitudes and practice patterns and other factors that influence vaccination behaviors.     

中国2001～2013年疫苗衍生脊髓灰质炎病毒及病例流行病学特征分析

目的分析中国（未包括香港、澳门特别行政区和台湾地区,下同）实现无脊髓灰质炎（脊灰）目标后,疫苗衍生脊灰病毒（Vaccine—derived Poliovirus,VDPV）的发生情况。方法分析31个省（自治区、直辖市,下同）报告的急性弛缓性麻痹（Acute Flaccid Paralysis,AFP）病例数据库、中国疾病预防控制中心（Center for Disease Control and Prevention,CDC）病毒病预防控制所国家脊灰实验室,对脊灰病毒阳性分离物的基因测序结果,各级CDC对VDPV及病例的调查和处置报告。结果2001～2013年,中国AFP病例监测系统从37名儿童粪便标本中分离到VDPV,来源于12个省,其中AFP病例22例,AFP病例接触者13人,健康儿童2人。其中2004年贵州省2例Ⅰ型（Type1）VDPV（VDPVI）病例形成循环（Circulating）（cVDPVⅠ）,2011～2012年四川省Ⅱ型（Type2）疫苗高变异脊灰病毒（Vaccine—hypervariable Poliovirus,VHPVⅡ）病例／VDPVⅡ病例形成cVHPVⅡ／cVDPVⅡ。结论VDPV可在健康儿童粪便中检出,也能导致儿童麻痹。其发生有疫苗因素,也有受种者因素和疫苗使用因素。口服脊灰减毒活疫苗（Oral Poliomyelitis Attenuated Live Vaccine,OPV）接种率低,是造成发生cVDPV的原因。只有达到人群OPV的高免疫覆盖率,通过高质量的AFP病例监测系统及时发现病例,采取有效措施及时控制疫情,才能阻断病毒的传播。     

Predictors of hepatitis A vaccination among young children in the United States

We analysed data from the 2009 National Immunization Survey to determine potential predictors of hepatitis A vaccination coverage among children aged 19-35 months. Overall national coverage was 75% for ≥1 dose. Residence in a state with hepatitis A vaccination recommendations prior to 2006, or in a metropolitan statistical area within such state, or being a minority child were among the variables independently associated with higher vaccination coverage. While hepatitis A vaccination coverage has improved since nationwide routine childhood vaccination began in 2006, coverage remains lower than that for other recommended childhood vaccines.     

Poliovirus seroprevalence before and after interruption of poliovirus transmission in Kano State,Nigeria

IntroductionIn September 2015, Nigeria was removed from the list of polio-endemic countries after more than 12 months had passed since the detection of last wild poliovirus case in the country on 24 July 2014. We are presenting here a report of two polio seroprevalence surveys conducted in September 2013 and October 2014, respectively, in the Kano state of northern Nigeria.MethodsHealth facility based seroprevalence surveys were undertaken at Murtala Mohammad Specialist Hospital, Kano. Parents or guardians of children aged 6–9 months, 36–47 months, 5–9 years and 10–14 years in 2013 and 6–9 months and 19–22 months (corresponding to 6–9 months range at the time of 2013 survey) in 2014 presenting to the outpatient department, were approached for participation, screened for eligibility and asked to provide informed consent. A questionnaire was administered and a blood sample collected for polio neutralization assay.ResultsAmong subjects aged 6–9 months in the 2013 survey, seroprevalence was 58% (95% confidence interval [CI] 51–66%) to poliovirus type 1, 42% (95% CI 34–50%) to poliovirus type 2, and 52% (95% CI 44–60%) to poliovirus type 3. Among children 36–47 months and older, seroprevalence was 85% or higher for all three serotypes. In 2014, seroprevalence in 6–9 month infants was 72% (95% CI 65–79%) for type 1, 59% (95% CI 52–66%) for type 2, and 65% (95% CI 57–72%) for type 3 and in 19–22 months, 80% (95% CI 74–85%), 57% (49–63%) and 78% (71–83%) respectively. Seroprevalence was positively associated with history of increasing oral poliovirus vaccine doses.ConclusionsThere was significant improvement in seroprevalence in 2014 over the 2013 levels indicating a positive impact of recent programmatic interventions. However the continued low seroprevalence in 6–9 month age is a concern and calls for improved immunization efforts to sustain the polio-free Nigeria.     

Cost of vaccinating refugees overseas versus after arrival in the United States, 2005

Since 2000, approximately 50,000 refugees have entered the United States each year from various regions of the world. Although persons with immigrant status are legally required to be vaccinated before entering the United States, this requirement does not extend to U.S.-bound persons with refugee status. After 1 year in the United States, refugees can apply for a change of status to that of legal permanent resident, at which time they are required to be fully vaccinated in accordance with recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). A potentially less costly alternative might be to vaccinate U.S.-bound refugees overseas routinely, before they depart from refugee camps. To compare the cost of vaccinating refugees overseas versus after their arrival in the United States, CDC analyzed 2005 data on the number of refugees, cost of vaccine, and cost of vaccine administration. This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which suggested that, in 2005, vaccinating 50,787 refugees overseas would have cost an estimated $7.7 million, less than one third of the estimated $26.0 million cost of vaccinating in the United States. Costs were calculated from the perspective of the U.S. health-care system. To achieve public health cost savings, routine overseas vaccination of U.S.-bound refugees should be considered.     

2009-2011年河北省脊髓灰质炎疫苗病毒核苷酸变异情况分析

目的 分析河北省2009-2011年急性弛缓性麻痹(AFP)病例及其密切接触者中脊髓灰质炎(脊灰)病毒分离株VP1编码区基因核苷酸变异情况,及时发现可能出现的疫苗衍生脊灰病毒(Vaccine-derived poliovrus,VDPV)及其引起的VDPV循环(Circulating VDPV,cVDPVs),为河北省维持无脊灰状态提供依据.方法 按照《世界卫生组织(WHO)脊灰实验室手册》的要求,对全省2009-2011年997例AFP病例及90例的接触者的粪便标本进行病毒分离与鉴定,分离的脊灰病毒送中国疾病预防控制中心(CDC)病毒病预防控制所国家脊灰实验室进行VP1编码区基因核苷酸序列测定与分析.结果 河北省2009-2011年,从24例AFP病例和7例AFP病例的密切接触者粪便标本中分离到脊灰病毒,将混合株进行单型分离,得到38株脊灰病毒,经国家脊灰实验室对脊灰病毒VP1编码区基因核苷酸序列测定,其中,36株发生突变,变异率均＜1.0％,最多变异个数为5个.脊灰病毒阳性AFP病例男性明显高于女性,主要集中在小年龄组.结论 2009-2011年分离到的脊灰病毒均为疫苗株,局部地区出现高变异株,未发现VDPV,河北省继续保持无脊灰状态.