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Biomedical subjects

Julian Bilous

Publications and source records attributed to Julian Bilous.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

The unfinished measles immunization agenda.

Despite achieving and sustaining global measles vaccination coverage of about 80% over the past decade, worldwide measles remains the fifth leading cause of mortality among children aged <5 years. In May 2002, the United Nations Special Session on Children endorsed the goal of reducing measles deaths by half by 2005. Countries and World Health Organization (WHO) regions that adopted aggressive measles control or elimination strategies have shown excellent results. In 2001, countries in the Americas reported an all time low of 537 confirmed measles cases. Substantial progress in measles control has also been achieved in the WHO Western Pacific Region, in seven southern African countries, and in selected countries in WHO European, Eastern Mediterranean, and Southeast Asian regions. The ongoing measles disease burden and availability of safe and effective measles mortality reduction strategies make a compelling case to complete the unfinished agenda of measles immunization.

Child↗
PubMed2003

Experience in global measles control, 1990-2001.

Worldwide during the 1980s remarkable progress was made in controlling measles through increasing routine measles vaccination to nearly 80%. In 2000, an estimated 777,000 measles deaths occurred, of which 452,000 were in the African Region of the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2001, WHO and the United Nations Children's Fund published a 5-year strategic plan to reduce measles mortality by half by 2005. Strategies include providing a second opportunity for measles immunization to all children through nationwide supplementary immunization activities, increasing routine vaccination coverage, and improving surveillance with laboratory confirmation of suspected measles cases. In 2000, over 100 million children received a dose of measles vaccine through supplementary immunization activities, a number projected to increase during 2002-2005. Current systems for monitoring measles vaccination coverage and disease burden must be improved to accurately assess progress toward measles control goals.

Child↗
PubMed2003

Immunization safety priority project at the World Health Organization.

In 1999, the World Health Organization's (WHO) Department of Vaccines and Biologicals launched the Immunization Safety Priority Project with the aim of establishing a comprehensive system to ensure the safety of all immunizations given in national immunization programs. Countries are the primary focus of the project. WHO has a role, not only because of its technical and normative role, but also because of its privileged relationship with country authorities and other partners, and its global vision and mandate. The four major areas of focus in the project are to (1) promote and coordinate research and development of safer and simpler delivery systems; (2) ensure vaccine safety, from vaccine development all the way through clinical trials and vaccine distribution until use; (3) broaden access to safer and more efficient systems for vaccine delivery and management of sharps waste; and (4) establish efficient mechanisms to detect serious or potentially serious adverse events following immunization, and enable prompt and effective response. The project emphasizes the importance of advocating safety and building capacity at national levels.

Advisory Committees↗