Preparedness for influenza vaccination during a pandemic in the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region

Authors

  • Leila Bell WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Emerging Diseases Surveillance and Response, Manila, Philippines
  • Lisa Peters WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Emerging Diseases Surveillance and Response, Manila, Philippines
  • James D Heffelfinger WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Emerging Diseases Surveillance and Response, Manila, Philippines
  • Sheena G Sullivan WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  • Alba Vilajeliu WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Emerging Diseases Surveillance and Response, Manila, Philippines
  • Jinho Shin WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Emerging Diseases Surveillance and Response, Manila, Philippines
  • Joseph Bresee Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
  • Erica Dueger WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Emerging Diseases Surveillance and Response, Manila, Philippines; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2018.9.5.001

Abstract

The use of seasonal influenza vaccine remains an important factor of influenza prevention as well as for pandemic preparedness. This was demonstrated in Fiji in 2016, where a strong global influenza network was able to detect and respond to an unusual seasonal influenza event. However, despite the known importance of seasonal influenza vaccination, in the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region, the number of doses distributed per 1000 population has decreased over the past years. There are several efforts ongoing to address this gap in use of seasonal influenza vaccine and continued collaboration is needed to ensure we are best prepared for the next pandemic.

References

World Health Organization. Vaccines against influenza WHO position paper - November 2012. Wkly Epidemiol Rec. 2012;47(87):461–76.

Members of the Western Pacific Regional Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System. Epidemiological and virological characteristics of influenza in the Western Pacific Region of the World Health Organization, 2011-2015. West Pacific Surveill Response J. 2017;8(1).

Members of the Western Pacific Regional Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System. Seasonal influenza vaccine policies, recommendations and use in the World Health Organization’s Western Pacific Region. West Pacific Surveill response J. 2013;4(3):51–9.

Palache A, Abelin A, Hollingsworth R, Cracknell W, Jacobs C, Tsai T, et al. Survey of distribution of seasonal influenza vaccine doses in 201 countries (2004–2015): The 2003 World Health Assembly resolution on seasonal influenza vaccination coverage and the 2009 influenza pandemic have had very little impact on improving influenz. Vaccine. 2017;35:4681–6.

Ortiz JR, Perut M, Dumolard L, Wijesinghe PR, Jorgensen P, Ropero AM, et al. A global review of national influenza immunization policies: Analysis of the 2014 WHO/UNICEF Joint Reporting Form on immunization. Vaccine. 2016;34(45):5400–5.

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Published

20-12-2018

How to Cite

1.
Bell L, Peters L, Heffelfinger JD, Sullivan SG, Vilajeliu A, Shin J, Bresee J, Dueger E. Preparedness for influenza vaccination during a pandemic in the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region. Western Pac Surveill Response J [Internet]. 2018 Dec. 20 [cited 2026 Apr. 3];9(5). Available from: https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/621

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 5 (2018): Suppl 1 Centennial Influenza Pandemic

Section

Perspective

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