John C Martin Foundation.

No abstract

Summary Due to the introduction of newer, more efficacious treatment options, there is a pressing need for policy makers and public health officials to develop or adapt national hepatitis C virus (HCV) control strategies to the changing epidemiological landscape. To do so, detailed, country‐specific data are needed to characterize the burden of chronic HCV infection. In this study of 17 countries, a literature review of published and unpublished data on HCV prevalence, viraemia, genotype, age and gender distribution, liver transplants and diagnosis and treatment rates was conducted, and inputs were validated by expert consensus in each country. Viraemic prevalence in this study ranged from 0.2% in Hong Kong to 2.4% in Taiwan, while the largest viraemic populations were in Nigeria (2 597 000 cases) and Taiwan (569 000 cases). Diagnosis, treatment and liver transplant rates varied widely across the countries included in this analysis, as did the availability of reliable data. Addressing data gaps will be critical for the development of future strategies to manage and minimize the disease burden of hepatitis C.

No abstract

This review aims to present the unique considerations for manufacturing and the regulation of new vaccines in Muslim-populated countries such as Malaysia. Our specific objectives are to highlight vaccine production and the ingredients of concern, summarize the current mechanism for ruling and recommendations on new vaccines, outline the different steps in decision-making on incorporating a new vaccine into the National Immunization Program, describe its issues and challenges, and explore the commercial viability and challenges of producing local permissible (halal) vaccines. Through this review, we hope readers understand that alternatives are present to replace ingredients of concern in vaccines. Halal certification and introduction of a new vaccine into a program are strictly conducted and healthcare providers must be prepared to educate the public on this. At the same time, it is hoped that the production of halal vaccine in Malaysia will promote self-reliance in Muslim-populated countries.