Abstract
The development of vaccination programmes relies on an understanding of the epidemiology and transmission dynamics of the pathogen. Whilst these concepts could be delivered using the traditional lecture format, a practical workshop approach would encourage deeper understanding and appreciation. However, an authentic laboratory-based seroepidemiological study using human and pathogen material would be costly, logistically complicated and raise ethical issues. The workshop presented here uses a cheap and safe model of an infectious disease immuno assay alongside spreadsheet analysis as a tool for introducing aspects of infectious disease epidemiology, and some theoretical concepts used in mass immunisation programme design. It isdesigned to represent a typical directly-transmitted childhood viral infection (e.g. measles) within a community prior to mass immunisation. Results can be discussed through comparison with a hypothetical data set and interms of herd immunity, endemicity and the type of transmission as well as average age at infection, the basic reproduction number (Ro) and other parameters of importance to vaccination programme design.
Published Version
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