title: The global pertussis initiative: process overview.
abstract: In 2001, the Global Pertussis Initiative was established as a scientific forum to analyze the status of pertussis globally and to evaluate various immunization strategies to improve disease control. Thirty-seven multidisciplinary experts from 17 countries participated. The initiative was conducted in 3 stages: assessment of the international epidemiology, diagnosis, health and economic burden, and prevention and treatment of pertussis; evaluation and prioritization of 7 immunization strategies to address the problems; and identification of solutions to surmount potential barriers to the implementation of these strategies. A health-economic model, created for the Initiative, analyzed the cost-effectiveness of the selected immunization strategies. Discussion, debate, and consensus were facilitated via a roundtable meeting, teleconferences and use of a closed, interactive website, allowing the participants to share data, knowledge, experience, and opinion. This article describes the processes undertaken to conduct the Initiative.
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Stanley.Plotkin@sanofipasteur.com
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Plotkin
mesh_terms: D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000458:organization & administration; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D015994:Incidence; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D009656:North America / Q000453:epidemiology; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014611:Vaccination / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine