Introducing rotavirus vaccine to the Palestinian territories: the role of public–private partnerships
WP Rennert, M Hindiyeh, FM Abu-Awwad… - Journal of Public …, 2019 - academic.oup.com
WP Rennert, M Hindiyeh, FM Abu-Awwad, H Marzouqa, A Ramlawi
Journal of Public Health, 2019•academic.oup.comBackground Introducing childhood immunization poses challenges in environments of
societal fragility. The Palestinian territories (Pt) are considered 'fragile'because of their lack
of political, economic and territorial sovereignty. Poverty is rife, infant mortality high, and
diseases associated with overcrowding widespread. Under these circumstances the
Rostropovich Vishneskaya Foundation (RVF) has assembled a network of public and private
stakeholders to introduce a country-wide rotavirus immunization program. Methods The …
societal fragility. The Palestinian territories (Pt) are considered 'fragile'because of their lack
of political, economic and territorial sovereignty. Poverty is rife, infant mortality high, and
diseases associated with overcrowding widespread. Under these circumstances the
Rostropovich Vishneskaya Foundation (RVF) has assembled a network of public and private
stakeholders to introduce a country-wide rotavirus immunization program. Methods The …
Background
Introducing childhood immunization poses challenges in environments of societal fragility. The Palestinian territories (Pt) are considered ‘fragile’ because of their lack of political, economic and territorial sovereignty. Poverty is rife, infant mortality high, and diseases associated with overcrowding widespread. Under these circumstances the Rostropovich Vishneskaya Foundation (RVF) has assembled a network of public and private stakeholders to introduce a country-wide rotavirus immunization program.
Methods
The incidence of diarrhea was determined for 18 months before and 18 months after the introduction of rotavirus vaccine among all children younger than 5 years presenting to outpatient clinics in Gaza with three or more loose stools per day. Simultaneously the prevalence of rotavirus was established by rotavirus antigen detection in stool samples collected from children younger than 3 years at Caritas Baby Hospital in Bethlehem during the corresponding time periods.
Results
Within 12 months 97.4% immunization coverage was achieved. The incidence of diarrhea dropped by 32.2%, while the prevalence of rotavirus in stool samples decreased by 64.6% throughout the following year.
Conclusion
In environments of economic or political instability private–public partnerships for the introduction of comprehensive vaccination programs can work based on close collaboration, shared vision, flexibility and inter-organizational trust.
Oxford University Press