Faculty of Medicine, Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology & Microbiology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon; Faculty of Medicine, Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
Faculty of Medicine, Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon; Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical Laboratory Sciences Program, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
J Infect Public Health. 2019 Jul-Aug;12(4):472-478. doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2018.10.009. Epub 2018 Nov 13.
Vaccination is the main control measure for influenza and its severe complications. To better understand the influenza vaccination situation in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, we conducted an extensive review of literature published between 2006 and 2016 in the region on influenza vaccine policies, use, recommendations and coverage. Forty-eight articles met the inclusion criteria. These originated from 11 of the 22 countries of the region, with most being from Saudi Arabia and Iran. The review revealed knowledge gaps and misconceptions about influenza and its vaccines even among healthcare workers. Most of the papers reviewed reported low coverage in the target populations. Limited literature on the number of countries with concrete national influenza vaccination policies was available, which may not accurately represent the situation in the Region. In conclusion, lack of awareness and knowledge are the main barriers to influenza vaccination, which remains very low in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Countries of the region need to promote and invest in research on influenza vaccination, which is critical to inform evidence-based programmes and policies to improve vaccination rates and control influenza.
疫苗接种是流感及其严重并发症的主要控制措施。为了更好地了解东地中海区域的流感疫苗接种情况，我们对 2006 年至 2016 年间在该区域发表的关于流感疫苗政策、使用、建议和覆盖范围的文献进行了广泛的回顾。符合纳入标准的文章有 48 篇。这些文章来自该区域 22 个国家中的 11 个国家，其中大多数来自沙特阿拉伯和伊朗。审查结果显示，即使在卫生保健工作者中，也存在对流感及其疫苗的知识差距和误解。大多数审查的论文报告了目标人群中的低覆盖率。关于有具体国家流感疫苗接种政策的国家数量的文献有限，这可能无法准确反映该区域的情况。总之，缺乏认识和知识是流感疫苗接种的主要障碍，东地中海区域的流感疫苗接种率仍然很低。该区域各国需要促进和投资流感疫苗接种研究，这对于为提高疫苗接种率和控制流感提供循证方案和政策至关重要。
