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Objective: To evaluate the relationship between serum ferritin (SF) and maternal hemoglobin (Hb) levels with those of newborns in a public hospital in Lima, Peru. Methods: We included consecutive pregnant women at term without complications and newborns of normal deliveries. We excluded patients with chronic diseases, infectious diseases, hemoglobinopathies and premature newborns or of low weight. FS was measured by chemiluminescence and Hb by impedance in venous sample from pregnant women and from the umbilical cord from the newborns. Maternal anemia was defined as Hb<11g/dl, iron deficiency (ID) if SF was <30 mg/ml. Descriptive statistics were performed using either Pearson o Spearman coefficients, t-test student, and Wilcoxon rank sum tests; a p value<0,05 was considered significant. Results: 74 pregnant women and their newborns were recruited; mean age was 26 years (IQR:22-31); mean gestational age was 39,06±1,0 week. Maternal anemia was found in 36,4% (mild to moderate in 96,3%), Hb ≥9g/dl in 94,6% and ID in 67,6%. None of the newborns had anemia or ID. The overall correlation between FS and Hb of the mother and the newborn was non-significant. With maternal SF <30 ng/ml, the correlation was r=0,339 (p=0,01). No significant difference was found between the anthropometric characteristics of the newborn of anemic versus non-anemic mothers. Conclusions: No significative correlation was found for maternal SF or Hb and respective values for newborns. However, a correlation was found when SF was <30 ng/ml. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immune response in Peruvian children following measles vaccination. METHODS: Fifty-five Peruvian children received Schwarz measles vaccine (about 10³ plaque forming units) at about 9 months of age. Blood samples were taken before vaccination, then twice after vaccination: one sample at between 1 and 4 weeks after vaccination and the final sample 3 months post vaccination for evaluation of immune cell phenotype and lymphoproliferative responses to measles and non-measles antigens. Measles-specific antibodies were measured by plaque reduction neutralization. FINDINGS: The humoral response developed rapidly after vaccination; only 4 of the 55 children (7%) had plaque reduction neutralization titres

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The importance of surveilling the circulation of the influenza virus and timely vaccination of different populations in Peru was analyzed in three sessions by a group of clinical experts from different specialties. The Peruvian national influenza surveillance system has many selected establishments that have become currently ineffective in terms of a timely report. Most of the samples come from Lima. The viral distribution is inadequately analyzed. The northern and jungle areas of the country have weather and season conditions different to those in Lima and on the southern highlands. This lack of coordination is accentuated by the opportunity of arrival of the influenza vaccine in the country. The Ministry of Health uses a trivalent vaccine but the possibility of a tetravalent vaccine with the two type-B lineages must be analyzed from a cost-benefit standpoint. The appropriateness of vaccinating two times a year, regionally, should be assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Manual for Surveillance of Events Supposedly Attributable to Vaccination or Immunization in the Region of the Americas represented one of the first steps toward building the regional system for surveillance of events supposedly attributable to vaccination or immunization (ESAVIs) and adverse events of special interest (AESIs). This manual establishes that, after notification and investigation of an event, a national committee of experts should classify the event in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) causality classification. The Pan American Committee for Safe Vaccination (COPAVASE) was created in response to the introduction of the new COVID-19 vaccines to support causality analysis of complex regional ESAVI cases and to advise the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on strategies for developing safety information and implementing risk mitigation measures. As part of this work, two strategic planning exercises were carried out, one with Committee members and PAHO staff and another that included national authorities and committee members, who contributed ideas on how to strengthen the work both at the regional level and in countries' surveillance systems.Suggested areas of work included definition of clear guidelines, development of model terms of reference and case presentation guidelines, training, and strategies to ensure committee sustainability.With the strategies identified, PAHO expects to be able to continue strengthening national safe vaccination committees as key institutions for maintaining public trust., Competing Interests: Conflicto de intereses. JAC tiene una beca de Pfizer para la investigación en el uso de antimicrobianos. Este conflicto de interés se evaluó por el secretariado de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud y se consideró que, dado que el contenido del manuscrito no se relaciona con ninguna vacuna producida por este laboratorio, no compromete la independencia de la opinión del autor.