Mass-gathering medicine
Multidisciplinary research aimed at understanding the global dynamics of infectious diseases, particularly in travellers attending mass gathering events
Our research provides unique insights into transmission of bacterial and viral pathogens and vaccine effectiveness, with implications for policy interventions to protect personal and public health
The Mass-gathering medicine node has strong links with the National Centre of Immunisation and Research (NCIRS), Kids Research and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, School of Public Health, Sydney Health Ethics as well as Saudi and Qatar research organisations.
Recent and current research projects include:
- A study promoting vigilance for the emergence of antimicrobial resistance following long-term use of antibacterial hand washing products among Hajj pilgrims
- A large randomised clinical trial comparing conjugate meningococcal vaccine to existing polysaccharide vaccines for prevention of meningococcal carriage in Hajj pilgrims
- Qualitative studies exploring knowledge of infectious diseases health risk for travellers in Australian Hajj tour operators and barriers to meningococcal vaccine uptake in Hajj pilgrims
- Investigation of the knowledge, attitude and perceptions of Australia’s Arab community toward Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination
- The monitoring of mobile genetic elements associated with drug-resistant infections in food and sewerage at Hajj and other mass gathering events
The node is also an actor in the WHO Collaborating Centre for Mass Gatherings and Global Health Security based at Flinders University in Adelaide.
Node Leadership
The node is led by Robert Booy, Professor of Child and Adolescent Health and Head of Clinical Research at NCIRS. The node is co-led by NCIRS epidemiologist and researcher, Harunor Rashid.
Key publications
- Tashani M, Badahdah A-M, Alfelali M, Barasheed O, Alqahtani AS, Heron L, Wong M, Louth J, Rashid H, Borrow R, Booy R (2019) Effect on meningococcal serogroup W immunogenicity when Tdap was administered prior, concurrent or subsequent to the quadrivalent (ACWY) meningococcal CRM197-conjugate vaccine in adult Hajj pilgrims: A randomised controlled trial. Vaccine 12; 37 (27):3562-7
- Alfelali M, Barasheed O, Koul P, Badahdah AM, Bokhary H, Tashani M, Bakarman M, Khandaker G, Booy R, Rashid H (2019) Influenza vaccine effectiveness among Hajj pilgrims: a test-negative case-control analysis of data from different Hajj years. Expert Rev Vaccines 18:1103-1114