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CSU 37/2008: QUERY TO READERS/READER FEEDBACK/EPI TRAINING

Tuesday, 9th of September 2008 Print
 CHILD SURVIVAL UPDATE 37/2008: QUERY TO READERS/READER FEEDBACK/EPI TRAINING
 

 Reader feedback on our previous week's posting
 

‘In your recent posting you refer to hepatitis B vaccine as an "inexpensive vaccine". I would suggest that in countries such as the UK, somehow, this vaccine may still be relatively expensive and therefore making it seem relatively less cost-effective to introduce.
 
 The Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board held a meeting in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, November 17-18, 2005 called "Can the United Kingdom control viral hepatitis?" Documents from this meeting are available at the organization's website(http://www.vhpb.org/). In a presentation on "economic aspects" which as we know, play an important part in decision making, it was interesting to see that the government's model was based
 on the cost of a singe pediatric dose of hepatitis B vaccine (not including administration costs of seem to be an important part of 5 British pounds (almost 9 USD at that time). This translated to 35-40 times the UNICEF WAP price (below 0.25 USD at that time).


 http://www.vhpb.org/files/html/Meetings_and_publications/Presentations/EDI36Edmundsweb.pdf
 
 Perhaps it is time for lower prices even in richer countries so that all children can benefit from the first vaccine against cancer.
 
 Regards
 
 Steven Wiersma, MD, MPH
 Medical Officer, Hepatitis Prevention
 World Health Organization
 Geneva, Switzerland
 

3) Free Online Training Materials

  Hello All,
 
 The Global Bureau of USAID has developed a series of short
 (approximately two-hour), on-line courses on a variety of health
 topics, including immunization. IMMUNIZATIONbasics contributed to the
 preparation of the course called Immunization Essentials, which is
 loosely patterned after the popular field guide by the same name.
 
 To access the entire set of courses, including Immunization Essentials,
 go to www.globalhealthlearning.org. A one-time, free registration is
 required to access the courses.
 
 (For ease of reference, the book Immunization Essentials itself is
 available on our IMMbasics web site: www.immunizationbasics.jsi.com)
 
 Robert Steinglass

IMMUNIZATIONbasics

 

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