title: Introduction of Hib vaccine into national immunization programmes: a descriptive analysis of global trends.
abstract: Despite the demonstration of effectiveness and public health impact of Hib conjugate vaccines, the majority of infants from poorest countries do not yet have access to this safe and effective preventive intervention. This paper provides a descriptive analysis of the main characteristics of countries that have included Hib vaccine in their national immunization programmes before 2006. It highlights the importance of regularly analyzing the process of decision-making involved in implementation of public health interventions, in order to learn from cumulative experience and expedite the introduction of future interventions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Lausanne, rue du Bugnon 17, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland. isabelle.rossi@chuv.ch
authors.forename: Isabelle A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Patrick L F
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Zuber
authors.forename: Laure
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dumolard
authors.forename: Damian G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Watt
mesh_terms: D016667:Bacterial Capsules; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods*; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D015994:Incidence; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014944:World Health Organization