Jon Andrus

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Jon Andrus, an American physician, epidemiologist and immunization specialist, [1] is the former deputy director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). [2]

Contents

Education and career

Andrus obtained a Bachelor of Science from Stanford University (Biologic Science), a medical doctor degree from the UC Davis School of Medicine, and has completed his residencies in family medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (Family Practice) and preventive medicine at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He is also a graduate of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Epidemic Intelligence Service. [3]

Andrus is the director, Division of Vaccines and Immunizations, is adjoint professor of family medicine and pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Infectious Disease, School of Medicine and adjunct professor of Epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. [4] Based at the center's Washington, D.C., office, Andrus leads the University of Colorado's efforts to advocate for the evidence-based use of life-saving vaccines in the world's poorest communities. Jon has more than 30 years of experience working in global health at all levels of the health system.

Currently, Andrus is also adjunct professor of Global Health at the Department of Global Health, the Milken Institute School of Public Health of George Washington University where he teaches a course on global vaccinology. Andrus also holds a faculty appointment at the University of California, San Francisco.

Andrus has served as a deputy director at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). [5] At PAHO, among several duties, he oversaw departments of Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief; and Knowledge Management and Communication. Prior to that, he was the lead technical advisor for PAHO's immunization program, providing oversight and guidance for PAHO's technical cooperation to member countries. He also served as polio focal point for polio eradication in Southeast Asia and regional advisor for immunization during the 1990s. [6]

He began his global health career in 1985 as a Peace Corps volunteer, serving as a district medical officer in Malawi and has since held positions in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) Global Immunization Division, as head of the Vaccinology and Immunization Program at the Institute for Global Health at the Universities of California at San Francisco and Berkeley, and as director and professor of the Global Health MPH Program at George Washington University.

Currently Andrus is the co-chair of the Global Polio Partners Group, chair of the PAHO's Regional Committee for Monitoring the Sustainability of Measles and Rubella Elimination in the Americas, and a member of the Independent Monitoring Board for the Polio Transition. Andrus serves on other World Health Organization (WHO) advisory committees, including PAHO's Technical Advisory Group for Vaccine Preventable Diseases, and WHO's South East Asia Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination.

Andrus has published more than 120 scientific peer-reviewed papers on topics covering disease eradication, the introduction of new vaccines and primary care. [7] He has received numerous awards, including: the 2016 the Presidential Citation of the Society for Public Health Education in recognition and gratitude for contributions to the Society for Public Health Education's textbook, Introduction to Global Health Promotion; the 2013 Transformational Leadership Award of the University of California; [8] the 2011 Global Leadership Award of the Pneumococcal Awareness Council of Experts, and the 2000 Distinguished Service Medal, the highest award of United States Public Health Service, for leadership in polio eradication in South-East Asia., [9] [10] In 1982, Andrus was given the John Driscoll, M.D. Award given to the outstanding graduating Family Practice Resident for service and teaching at the Santa Rosa Family Practice Program of University California San Francisco. The ministries of health of El Salvador, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru have awarded Andrus for his contributions to immunization services in countries of Latin America. He has received numerous other awards for his leadership in the eradication of measles, rubella and congenital rubella syndrome, as well as the introduction of new vaccines in developing countries.

Other activities

Related Research Articles

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Rubella, also known as German measles or three-day measles, is an infection caused by the rubella virus. This disease is often mild, with half of people not realizing that they are infected. A rash may start around two weeks after exposure and last for three days. It usually starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. The rash is sometimes itchy and is not as bright as that of measles. Swollen lymph nodes are common and may last a few weeks. A fever, sore throat, and fatigue may also occur. Joint pain is common in adults. Complications may include bleeding problems, testicular swelling, encephalitis, and inflammation of nerves. Infection during early pregnancy may result in a miscarriage or a child born with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). Symptoms of CRS manifest as problems with the eyes such as cataracts, deafness, as well as affecting the heart and brain. Problems are rare after the 20th week of pregnancy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pan American Health Organization</span> Public health agency for the Americas

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) in charge of international health cooperation in the Americas. It fosters technical cooperation among member countries to fight communicable and noncommunicable diseases, strengthen health systems, and respond to emergencies and disasters. It has 35 Member States and four Associate Members in the region. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., PAHO is the regional office for the World Health Organization in the Americas, and the health organization of the Inter-American System. It is known in Latin America as the OPS or OPAS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polio eradication</span> Effort to permanently eliminate all cases of poliomyelitis infection

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Measles vaccine</span> Vaccine used to prevent measles

Measles vaccine protects against becoming infected with measles. Nearly all of those who do not develop immunity after a single dose develop it after a second dose. When the rate of vaccination within a population is greater than 92%, outbreaks of measles typically no longer occur; however, they may occur again if the rate of vaccination decreases. The vaccine's effectiveness lasts many years. It is unclear if it becomes less effective over time. The vaccine may also protect against measles if given within a couple of days after exposure to measles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rubella vaccine</span> Vaccine used to prevent rubella

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Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) is a vaccination programme launched by the Government of India in 1985. It became a part of Child Survival and Safe Motherhood Programme in 1992 and is currently one of the key areas under the National Health Mission since 2005. The programme now consists of vaccination for 12 diseases- tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles, hepatitis B, rotaviral gastroenteritis, Japanese encephalitis, rubella, pneumonia and Pneumococcal diseases. Hepatitis B and Pneumococcal diseases were added to the UIP in 2007 and 2017 respectively. The cost of all the vaccines are borne entirely by the Government of India and is funded through taxes with a budget of 7,234 crore (US$910 million) in 2022 and the program covers all residents of India, including foreign residents.

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Dr. Robert Kezaala is a medical doctor, epidemiologist, scholar and public health leader in the field of immunization and health emergencies. Currently he is serving as a Senior Health Advisor and team lead for Accelerated Immunization Initiatives: measles, rubella, epidemic meningitis and yellow fever control and Immunization in Emergencies at the United Nations Children’s Fund.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael J. Ryan (doctor)</span> Irish doctor and Chief Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme

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The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) is the principal advisory group to World Health Organization (WHO) for vaccines and immunization. Established in 1999 through the merging of two previous committees, notably the Scientific Advisory Group of Experts and the Global Advisory Group by Director-General of the WHO Gro Harlem Brundtland. It is charged with advising WHO on overall global policies and strategies, ranging from vaccines and biotechnology, research and development, to delivery of immunization and its linkages with other health interventions. SAGE is concerned not just with childhood vaccines and immunization, but all vaccine-preventable diseases. SAGE provide global recommendations on immunization policy and such recommendations will be further translated by advisory committee at the country level.

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References

  1. Aylward Bruce, Andrus Jon, Bilous Julian, Smith Jean, Sanders Ray (1997). "Pollomyelitis immunisation programmes". The Lancet. 349 (9051): 574–575. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(97)80127-4 . PMID   9048817. S2CID   54288033.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. PAHO. "Dr. Jon Andrus is Named PAHO Deputy Director" . Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  3. World Vaccine Congress. "Dr Jon K. Andrus, Deputy Director". Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  4. "Research | Colorado School of Public Health".
  5. "OPAS/OMS | Dr. Jon Andrus is Named PAHO Deputy Director". 28 September 2009.
  6. Andrus JK, Thapa AB, Withana N, Fitzsimmons JW, Abeykoon P, Aylward B (2001). "A new paradigm for international disease control: lessons learned from polio eradication in Southeast Asia". Am J Public Health. 91 (1): 146–50. doi:10.2105/ajph.91.1.146. PMC   1446512 . PMID   11189812.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. "Jon Kim Andrus publications" . Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  8. Zimmerman, Rick S.; Diclemente, Ralph J.; Andrus, Jon K.; Hosein, Everold N. (2016-05-16). Introduction to Global Health Promotion. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN   9781118897799.
  9. worldcongress.com. "Speaker Biography". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  10. "UCSF researcher receives distinguished service medal for his work in eradicating polio in southeast asia". www.eurekalert.org. Archived from the original on 2002-03-21.
  11. "GPEI-Global Polio Partners Group".
  12. Polio Transition Independent Monitoring Board (TIMB) Archived 2016-11-09 at the Wayback Machine Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)
  13. "OPAS/OMS | Reports of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Vaccine-preventable Diseases". 2 October 2009.
  14. "World Health Organization, Third Meeting of the South East Asia Regional Verification Commission on Measles Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome (SEA-RVC)". www.searo.who.int. Archived from the original on 2 November 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2022.