The epidemiology of vaccine-preventable diseases is a result of numerous factors, among which organized active immunization is one of the most important. Analysis of trends in disease incidence of ...vaccine-preventable diseases is an adequate way to provide evidence of impact of vaccination on disease burden.
In this manuscript, trends in vaccine-preventable diseases in Croatia are analyzed. Due to high vaccination coverage with safe and efficacious vaccines, some diseases like poliomyelitis and diphtheria have been eliminated in Croatia, while measles and rubella are at the point of elimination and burden of other vaccine-preventable diseases has been reduced significantly. Until recently, most of the vaccines used in the national immunization schedule have been produced by the Institute of Immunology, Zagreb, and the reduction of disease incidence is largely attributable to the Institute’s vaccines. This especially refers to the Koprowski oral polio vaccine, measles, mumps, rubella and diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis vaccines.
Seroprevalence data on viral hepatitis in the general population vary widely. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis A (HAV), hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) ...viruses in the general Croatian adult population undergoing routine check-ups. The seroprevalence of anti-HAV, anti-HBc and anti-HCV was 40.5%, 7.0% and 0.9%, respectively. HBsAg was found in 0.7% and anti-HBs antibodies in 24.4% of participants. Gender was not associated with HAV, HBV or HCV seropositivity. HAV and HBV seropositivity increased progressively with age (HAV from 11.7% to 90.4%, p < 0.001; HBV from 1.7% to 15.8%, p < 0.001). Participants from rural areas showed a significantly higher HBV seroprevalence rate than those from urban areas (10.7% vs. 6.1%, p = 0.007). Results of univariate and multiple logistic regression showed that older age was a significant predictor for both HAV and HBV seropositivity while rural place of residence was a significant predictor for HBV seropositivity.
We present a review of the current implementation status of vaccination against human papillomaviruses (HPV) and available data concerning the burden of HPV infection and HPV type-specific ...distribution in 16 central and eastern European countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. At least one current HPV prophylactic vaccine is registered in all central and eastern European countries except Montenegro. Six counties-Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Romania, Slovenia, and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia-have integrated the HPV vaccination into their national immunization program and currently provide routine vaccination free of charge to the primary target population. Ten countries have not integrated HPV vaccination into the national immunization program. The key reasons for lack of implementation of HPV vaccination into the national immunization program are the high vaccine cost and negative public perception. Vaccination of males is not recommended in any country in the region.
Cijepljenje protiv influence Kaić, Bernard
Medicus (Zagreb, Croatia : 1992),
01/2011, Volume:
20, Issue:
1_Influenca
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Cjepiva protiv gripe u upotrebi su desetljećima. U Hrvatskoj su u upotrebi podjedinična i fragmentirana cjepiva, koja se smatraju nešto manje djelotvornima od cjelostaničnih i živih atenuiranih ...cjepiva, ali su istodobno manje reaktogena. U svrhu poboljšanja imunogenosti i djelotvornosti cjepiva protiv gripe razvijena su adjuvantirana cjepiva i cjepivo za intradermalnu primjenu. Cijepljenje se tradicionalno preporučuje osobama pod povećanim rizikom od razvoja komplikacija gripe, osobama kojima bi gripa mogla ozbiljno pogoršati osnovnu bolest i zdravstvenim radnicima koji su u kontaktu s osjetljivim bolesnicima. Kao i sva druga cjepiva, tako ni cjepiva protiv gripe nisu savršena, tj. ne pružaju 100%-tnu zaštitu cijepljenim osobama i kod dijela cijepljenih osoba mogu izazvati nuspojave. Međutim očekivana korist od primjene cjepiva uvelike nadilazi potencijalni rizik, što jednako vrijedi za uobičajena sezonska cjepiva, kao i za pandemijsko, adjuvantirano cjepivo protiv gripe. Brojni dokazi o sigurnosti primjene i djelotvornosti cjepiva ne daju nimalo opravdanja za negativnu medijsku kampanju protiv ovog cjepiva, koje smo svjedoci od pojave pandemijskog cjepiva do danas.
During the four pandemic waves, a total of 560,504 cases and 10,178 deaths due to COVID-19 were reported in Croatia. The Alpha variant, dominant from March 2021 (>50% of positive samples), was ...rapidly replaced by Delta variants (>90%) by August 2021. Several seroprevalence studies were conducted in different populations (general population, children/adolescents, professional athletes, healthcare workers, veterinarians) and in immunocompromised patients (hemodialysis patients, liver/kidney transplant recipients). After the first pandemic wave, seroprevalence rates of neutralizing (NT) antibodies were reported to be 0.2-5.5%. Significantly higher seropositivity was detected during/after the second wave, 2.6-18.7%. Two studies conducted in pet animals (February-June 2020/July-December 2020) reported SARS-CoV-2 NT antibodies in 0.76% of cats and 0.31-14.69% of dogs, respectively. SARS-CoV-2 NT antibodies were not detected in wildlife. Environmental samples taken in the households of COVID-19 patients showed high-touch personal objects as most frequently contaminated (17.3%), followed by surfaces in patients' rooms (14.6%), kitchens (13.3%) and bathrooms (8.3%). SARS-CoV-2 RNA was also detected in 96.8% affluent water samples, while all effluent water samples tested negative. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in humans, animals and the environment suggests that the 'One Health' approach is critical to controlling COVID-19 and future pandemics.
We analyzed prevalence, risk factors and hepatitis C virus(HCV) genotype distribution in different population groups in Croatia in the context of HCV epidemiology in Europe, with the aim to gather ...all existing information on HCV infection in Croatia which will be used to advise upon preventive measures. It is estimated that 35000-45000 of the Croatian population is chronically infected with HCV. Like in other European countries, there have been changes in the HCV epidemiology in Croatia over the past few decades. In some risk groups(polytransfused and hemodialysis patients), a significant decrease in the HCV prevalence was observed after the introduction of routine HCV screening of blood/blood products in 1992. Injecting drug users(IDUs) still represent a group with the highest risk for HCV infection with prevalence ranging from 29% to 65%. Compared to the prevalence in theCroatian general population(0.9%), higher prevalence rates were found in prison populations(8.3%-44%), human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients(15%), persons with high-risk sexual behavior(4.6%) and alcohol abusers(2.4%). Low/very low prevalence was reported in children and adolescents(0.3%) as well as in blood donors(0%-0.009%). In addition, distribution of HCV genotypes has changed due to different routes of transmission. In the general population, genotypes 1 and 3 are most widely distributed(60.4%-79.8% and 12.9%-47.9%, respectively). The similar genotype distribution is found in groups with high-risk sexual behavior. Genotype 3 is predominant in Croatian IDUs(60.5%-83.9%) while in the prison population genotypes 3 and 1 are equally distributed(52.4% and 47.6%). Data on HCV prevalence and risk factors for transmission are useful for implementation of preventive measures and HCV screening.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel coronavirus with a pandemic spread. So far, a total of 349,910 SARS-CoV-2 cases and 7687 deaths were reported in Croatia. We ...analyzed the seroprevalence and neutralizing (NT) antibody response in the Croatian general population after the first (May–July 2020) and second (December 2020–February 2021) pandemic wave. Initial serological testing was performed using a commercial ELISA, with confirmation of reactive samples by a virus neutralization test (VNT). A significant difference in the overall seroprevalence rate was found after the first (ELISA 2.2%, VNT 0.2%) and second waves (ELISA 25.1%, VNT 18.7%). Seropositive individuals were detected in all age groups, with significant differences according to age. The lowest prevalence of NT antibodies was documented in the youngest (<10 years; 16.1%) and the oldest (60–69/70+ years; 16.0% and 12.8%, respectively) age groups. However, these age groups showed the highest median NT titers (32–64). In other groups, seropositivity varied from 19.3% to 21.5%. A significant weak positive correlation between binding antibody level as detected by ELISA and VNT titer (rho = 0.439, p < 0.001) was observed. SARS-CoV-2 NT antibody titers seem to be age-related, with the highest NT activity in children under 10 years and individuals above 50 years.
Background
Results of previous influenza vaccination effects on current season influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) are inconsistent.
Objectives
To explore previous influenza vaccination effects on ...current season VE among population targeted for vaccination.
Methods
We used 2011/2012 to 2016/2017 I‐MOVE primary care multicentre test‐negative data. For each season, we compared current season adjusted VE (aVE) between individuals vaccinated and unvaccinated in previous season. Using unvaccinated in both seasons as a reference, we then compared aVE between vaccinated in both seasons, current only, and previous only.
Results
We included 941, 2645 and 959 influenza‐like illness patients positive for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2) and B, respectively, and 5532 controls. In 2011/2012, 2014/2015 and 2016/2017, A(H3N2) aVE point estimates among those vaccinated in previous season were −68%, −21% and −19%, respectively; among unvaccinated in previous season, these were 33%, 48% and 46%, respectively (aVE not computable for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and B). Compared to current season vaccination only, VE for both seasons' vaccination was (i) similar in two of four seasons for A(H3N2) (absolute difference ad 6% and 8%); (ii) lower in three of four seasons for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 (ad 18%, 26% and 29%), in two seasons for influenza A(H3N2) (ad 27% and 39%) and in two of three seasons for influenza B (ad 26% and 37%); (iii) higher in one season for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 (ad 20%) and influenza B (ad 24%).
Conclusions
We did not identify any pattern of previous influenza vaccination effect. Prospective cohort studies documenting influenza infections, vaccinations and vaccine types are needed to understand previous influenza vaccinations' effects.
We are reporting on a household outbreak of measles, in which cases of simultaneous measles and chickenpox infection occured in children of a family who resided in Italy during the incubation period ...(June 2011). In three children, fever and generalized confluent macular rash were the dominant symptoms. Serology testing revealed simultaneous measles and chickenpox infection in four children.
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