Open AccessThe Global Pertussis Initiative
Author(s) -
Stanley А. Plotkin
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
the pediatric infectious disease journal/the pediatric infectious disease journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1532-0987
pISSN - 0891-3668
DOI - 10.1097/01.inf.0000160707.44131.ae
Subject(s) - multidisciplinary approach , prioritization , identification (biology) , political science , immunization , medicine , public relations , medical education , business , process management , immunology , botany , antigen , law , biology
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.