Salah Al Awaidy1, Abdulhakim Althaqafi2, Ghassan Dbaibo3. 1. Office of HE Undersecretary of Health Affairs, Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman. 2. Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 3. Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Influenza is a vaccine-preventable acute respiratory viral infection that causes epidemics annually around the globe. A regional influenza stakeholder network (MENA-ISN) comprised of experts assessed the status of influenza prevention and control using a structured survey. METHODS: A survey questionnaire was used to obtain information from each participating country on surveillance system, the burden of disease, influenza vaccination programs, recommendations, funding and access for vaccine and vaccination, target rate, coverage rate monitoring, and drivers and barriers to influenza vaccination. RESULTS: Out of the 10 countries that participated, nine had an influenza surveillance system and vaccination policy, and seven had World Health Organization (WHO) accredited reference laboratory. Three countries had burden of disease data available and eight had a reimbursement vaccine policy. Influenza vaccine was available in five countries through the Ministry of Health whereas in others, pharmacies also dispensed for the private sector. In all countries, prescribers were physicians, and vaccinators, which could be physicians, nurses, and pharmacists. Eight countries had a set vaccination target rate and only three monitored the influenza coverage rates. Drivers and barriers of vaccination were similar in all countries. CONCLUSIONS: Despite existing policies, influenza vaccination coverage remains far below the WHO recommendations. Increased awareness and effective implementation of policies with collaboration of stakeholders can help increase the rates to reach WHO targets.
OBJECTIVES: Influenza is a vaccine-preventable acute respiratory viral infection that causes epidemics annually around the globe. A regional influenza stakeholder network (MENA-ISN) comprised of experts assessed the status of influenza prevention and control using a structured survey. METHODS: A survey questionnaire was used to obtain information from each participating country on surveillance system, the burden of disease, influenza vaccination programs, recommendations, funding and access for vaccine and vaccination, target rate, coverage rate monitoring, and drivers and barriers to influenza vaccination. RESULTS: Out of the 10 countries that participated, nine had an influenza surveillance system and vaccination policy, and seven had World Health Organization (WHO) accredited reference laboratory. Three countries had burden of disease data available and eight had a reimbursement vaccine policy. Influenza vaccine was available in five countries through the Ministry of Health whereas in others, pharmacies also dispensed for the private sector. In all countries, prescribers were physicians, and vaccinators, which could be physicians, nurses, and pharmacists. Eight countries had a set vaccination target rate and only three monitored the influenza coverage rates. Drivers and barriers of vaccination were similar in all countries. CONCLUSIONS: Despite existing policies, influenza vaccination coverage remains far below the WHO recommendations. Increased awareness and effective implementation of policies with collaboration of stakeholders can help increase the rates to reach WHO targets.
Entities:
Keywords:
Influenza Vaccines; Influenza, Human; Middle East; North Africa; Vaccination
Authors: R El Shesheny; N B Halasa; J V Williams; A A Shehabi; S Faouri; G Kayali; N Khuri-Bulos Journal: East Mediterr Health J Date: 2016-10-02 Impact factor: 1.628
Authors: F Elfalki; H Ihazmad; A Bimouhen; Z Regragui; S Benkaroum; Y Bakri; A Barakat Journal: East Mediterr Health J Date: 2016-10-02 Impact factor: 1.628
Authors: R Saito; H Akinobu; R A Shaker; I S Akel; A Assaf-Casals; M Lteif; T Odagiri; R Inaba; N Soudani; S Khafaja; S T Ghanem; M Rajab; Y Shobugawa; G S Dbaibo; H Zaraket Journal: East Mediterr Health J Date: 2016-10-02 Impact factor: 1.628
Authors: M Gouya; F Rezaei; A Haghdoost; M Nabavi; K Seif Farahi; E Mostafavi; T Mokhtari Azad; H Akbari; M Soroush; H Riazi; E Bitaraf; M N Dadras; H Barati; H Shakoori; J Bathaei; M Rezvani; P Hemmati Journal: East Mediterr Health J Date: 2016-10-02 Impact factor: 1.628
Authors: S Chlif; W Aissi; J Bettaieb; G Kharroubi; M Nouira; R Yazidi; A El Moussi; L Maazaoui; A Slim; A Ben Salah Journal: East Mediterr Health J Date: 2016-10-02 Impact factor: 1.628
Authors: Judith H Aberle; Theresia Popow-Kraupp; Peter Kreidl; Hermann Laferl; Franz X Heinz; Stephan W Aberle Journal: Emerg Infect Dis Date: 2015-04 Impact factor: 6.883
Authors: Kathryn E Lafond; Harish Nair; Mohammad Hafiz Rasooly; Fátima Valente; Robert Booy; Mahmudur Rahman; Paul Kitsutani; Hongjie Yu; Guiselle Guzman; Daouda Coulibaly; Julio Armero; Daddi Jima; Stephen R C Howie; William Ampofo; Ricardo Mena; Mandeep Chadha; Ondri Dwi Sampurno; Gideon O Emukule; Zuridin Nurmatov; Andrew Corwin; Jean Michel Heraud; Daniel E Noyola; Radu Cojocaru; Pagbajabyn Nymadawa; Amal Barakat; Adebayo Adedeji; Marta von Horoch; Remigio Olveda; Thierry Nyatanyi; Marietjie Venter; Vida Mmbaga; Malinee Chittaganpitch; Tran Hien Nguyen; Andros Theo; Melissa Whaley; Eduardo Azziz-Baumgartner; Joseph Bresee; Harry Campbell; Marc-Alain Widdowson Journal: PLoS Med Date: 2016-03-24 Impact factor: 11.069
Authors: Yasser Taher Al Hassan; Eduardo L Fabella; Edric D Estrella; Hassan Abdulfatah Al Ramadan; Ahmed Mansour Al Rajeh; Fatimah Hassan Al Saleh Journal: Hum Vaccin Immunother Date: 2021-01-30 Impact factor: 3.452
Authors: Ibrahim A Sales; Wajid Syed; Majed F Almutairi; Yazed Al Ruthia Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-01-08 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Redouane Abouqal; Maher Beji; Mohamed Chakroun; Kamal Marhoum El Filali; Jihane Rammaoui; Hela Zaghden Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2022-07-01