Lucia Ferro Bricks

Prof. Lucia Ferro Bricks

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Academic Career Length

33Years (1994-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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28 November 2024 in Vaccines
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
LBLucia Ferro Bricks
Lucia Ferro Bricks
JVJuan Vargas
Juan Vargas
DMDenis Macina
Denis Macina
Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial disease of the respiratory tract that can be prevented by vaccination. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the vaccine coverage rate for the third dose of a DPT-containing vaccine was 86%, with large disparities among countries. Since 2022, many high-income countries have reported a resurgence of pertussis, especially in the European region, but the disease has also caused outbreaks in middle- and low-income countries, despite their less extensive disease surveillance capacities. This paper aims to review the incidence rates (IRs) of pertussis in high-, middle-, and low-income countries following the COVID-19 pandemic and to discuss the most relevant factors associated with the resurgence of the disease. The epidemiology of pertussis is highly variable and is influenced not only by the type of vaccine used but also by the specific characteristics of the disease, vaccine coverage rates, vaccination schedules, and the quality of surveillance. Since the cessation of COVID-19 measures, there have been significant pertussis outbreaks that could have been partially mitigated with higher coverage rates and more comprehensive pertussis vaccination throughout life.
26 November 2024 in Vaccines
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
LBLucia Ferro Bricks
Lucia Ferro Bricks
DMDenis Macina
Denis Macina
JVJuan Vargas
Juan Vargas
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), launched in 1988, has successfully reduced wild poliovirus (WPV) cases by over 99.9%, with WPV type 2 and WPV3 declared eradicated in 2015 and 2019, respectively. However, as of 2024, WPV1 remains endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Since 2000, outbreaks of circulating virus derived of polio vaccines (cVDPVs) have emerged in multiple regions, primary driven by low vaccine coverage rates (VCRs). The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted routine immunization, resulting in millions of unvaccinated children, and leaving many countries vulnerable to both WPV1 and cVDPVs outbreaks. This paper reviews the epidemiological landscape of poliomyelitis post the COVID-19 pandemic, and the strategies and challenges to achieve the global polio eradication.
15 March 1994 in Jornal de Pediatria
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
LBLucia Ferro Bricks
Lucia Ferro Bricks
The author presents a review about the protective efficacy of polyvalent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines in different groups at high risk for severe pneumococcal infection and the difficulties in the development of a conjugate pneumococcal vaccine capable of offering protection to younger children.