Review of seasonal influenza vaccination in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: Policies, use and barriers

Zaraket, Hassan; Melhem, Nada M.; Malik, Mamunur Rahman; Khan, Wasiq; Dbaibo, Ghassan; Abubakar, Abdinasir

doi:10.1016/j.jiph.2018.10.009

Cited by 34 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Results from the SARI surveillance by the MOH showed a similar distribution, with higher positivity rates among those 15-49 years reaching 26% in the southern sentinel site and a positivity rate of 21% for those 5-15 years in the Beirut sentinel site [37]. According to a cross-sectional review published in 2015, influenza vaccine uptake among Lebanese adults was only 27.6% during the 2014/2015 season [39]. The vaccination rate for our population reached 22.4%.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

The burden of laboratory-confirmed influenza infection in Lebanon between 2008 and 2016: a single tertiary care center experience

et al. 2020

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Background: Influenza is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Following the 2009 pandemic, there was widened interest in studying influenza burden in all regions. However, since data from the World Health Organization (WHO) Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region remain limited, we aimed to contribute to the understanding of influenza burden in Lebanon. Methods: A retrospective chart review extending over a period of 8 seasons from Jan 1st, 2008 till June 30th, 2016 at a tertiary care center in Beirut was performed. All cases confirmed to have influenza based on rapid antigen detection or/and polymerase chain reaction on a respiratory sample were included for analysis. Data on epidemiology, clinical presentation, complications, antiviral use and mortality were collected for analysis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

The burden of laboratory-confirmed influenza infection in Lebanon between 2008 and 2016: a single tertiary care center experience

et al. 2020

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“…According to a cross-sectional review published in 2015, influenza vaccine uptake among Lebanese adults was only 27.6% during the 2014/2015 season. (37) In Lebanon, influenza vaccination is only recommended for subjects with a chronic medical condition, hospital healthcare workers and pilgrims. (38) The vaccination rate for our population reached 22.4%.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Burden of Laboratory-confirmed Influenza Infection in Lebanon Between 2008 and 2016: A single tertiary care center experience

Assaf-Casals

Saleh

Khafaja

et al. 2020

Preprint

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BACKGROUND: Influenza is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Following the 2009 pandemic, there was widened interest in studying influenza burden in all regions. However, data from the World Health Organization (WHO) Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region remain limited particularly from Lebanon. METHODS: A retrospective chart review extending over a period of 8 seasons from Jan 1st, 2008 till June 30 th , 2016 at a tertiary care center in Beirut was performed. All laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza were included for analysis. Data on epidemiology, clinical presentation, complications, antiviral use and mortality were collected for analysis. RESULTS: A total number of 1829 cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza were identified. Average annual positivity rate was 14%. Both influenza A and B co-circulated in each season with predominance of influenza A. Influenza virus started circulating in December and peaked in January and February. The age group of 19-50 years accounted for the largest proportion of cases (22.5%) followed by the age group of 5-19 years (18%). Pneumonia was the most common complication reported in 33% of cases. Mortality reached 3.8%. The two extremes of age (<2 years and ≥ 65years) were associated with a more severe course of disease, hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, complications, and mortality rate. Of all the identified cases, 26% were hospitalized. Moderate-to-severe disease was more likely in influenza B cases but no difference in mortality was reported between the two types. Antivirals were prescribed in 68.8% and antibiotics in 41% of cases. There seemed to be an increasing trend in the number of diagnosed and hospitalized cases over the years of the study. CONCLUSION: Influenza causes a substantial hospitalization burden annually in Lebanon with significant morbidity across all age groups. A population based prospective surveillance study is needed to better estimate the burden of Influenza in Lebanon that would help formulate a policy on influenza control.

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“…The influenza vaccine policies implemented commonly covered the main risk groups, with some variability between countries. A review of literature published between 2006 and 2016 in the region on influenza vaccine policies, use, recommendations and coverage [13] reveal wide variation in influenza vaccination rates among healthcare workers and other high risk groups within and between the countries from less than 1% in Pakistan to as high as 71.1% in Qatar. Similarly, data on vaccination rates among pregnant women showed wide variation from as low as 0% in a study from Pakistan to about 18% in Saudi Arabia.…”

Section: Use Of Influenza Vaccine In the Region And Challenges To Incmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fourth meeting of the Eastern Mediterranean Acute Respiratory Infection Surveillance (EMARIS) network and first scientific conference on acute respiratory infections in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 11–14 December, 2017, Amman, Jordan

Abubakar

Barakat

Allam

et al. 2020

Journal of Infection and Public Health

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Review of seasonal influenza vaccination in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: Policies, use and barriers

Cited by 34 publications

References 54 publications

The burden of laboratory-confirmed influenza infection in Lebanon between 2008 and 2016: a single tertiary care center experience

The burden of laboratory-confirmed influenza infection in Lebanon between 2008 and 2016: a single tertiary care center experience

The Burden of Laboratory-confirmed Influenza Infection in Lebanon Between 2008 and 2016: A single tertiary care center experience

Fourth meeting of the Eastern Mediterranean Acute Respiratory Infection Surveillance (EMARIS) network and first scientific conference on acute respiratory infections in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 11–14 December, 2017, Amman, Jordan

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