Seasonal influenza vaccine policy, use and effectiveness in the tropics and subtropics - a systematic literature review.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

The evidence needed for tropical countries to take informed decisions on influenza vaccination is scarce. This article reviews policy, availability, use and effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccine in tropical and subtropical countries.

Method

Global health databases were searched in three thematic areas - policy, availability and protective benefits in the context of human seasonal influenza vaccine in the tropics and subtropics. We excluded studies on monovalent pandemic influenza vaccine, vaccine safety, immunogenicity and uptake, and disease burden.

Results

Seventy-four countries in the tropics and subtropics representing 60% of the world's population did not have a national vaccination policy against seasonal influenza. Thirty-eight countries used the Nort

SUBMITTER: Hirve S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4910173 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature