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S O Foster

Publications and source records attributed to S O Foster.

41 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Measles control in Yaounde: justification of a one dose, nine month minimum age vaccination policy in tropical Africa.

For tropical countries the World Health Organisation recommends a single dose of measles vaccine, administered at a minimum age of 9 months. In some African nations, however, up to 26% of all reported measles occurs before the age of 9 months, and many African nations have been reluctant to follow the WHO recommendation. In 1974 the Ministry of Health of the United Republic of Cameroon made several changes in the existing measles control strategy, including increasing the minimum age for measles vaccination from 6 to 9 months. Surveillance of measles in Yaounde, the capital city, during the five years after the increase in age at vaccination did not reveal a need to return to the minimum age of 6 months. In fact, by 1979, with measles vaccination coverage among children 12-23 months of age at 40%, there had been a 44% decrease in reported measles among children of all ages, including a 64% decrease in the measles attack rate among children under the age of 9 months. These observations support the one dose, 9 month minimum age measles vaccination policy in tropical Africa.

Acute Disease↗

Immunization opportunities taken and missed.

A significant proportion of nonvaccination is the result of the failure of the health system to make use of every opportunity for immunization. Answers to the four questions: Who is not vaccinated? Where could vaccinations have been given? When could vaccinations have been given? and Why were vaccinations not given? are important to understanding the epidemiology of nonvaccination.

Female↗

Control of poliomyelitis in Africa.

In Africa, an estimated 168,000 children are disabled by poliomyelitis every year. With the use of lameness surveys to estimate incidence before immunization, surveys to measure vaccination coverage, and surveillance to monitor disease trends, poliomyelitis control in Yaound é, Cameroon; The Gambia; and Abidjan, Ivory Coast was examined. Three doses of oral poliovirus vaccine have been administered to 50%-70% of the children. The incidence of poliomyelitis has decreased significantly. Oral poliovirus vaccine administered during the first year of life has been effective in controlling poliomyelitis in tropical Africa.

Africa↗