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Varrelman TJ, Rader B, Remmel C, Tuli G, Han AR, Astley CM, Brownstein JS. Vaccine effectiveness against emerging COVID-19 variants using digital health data. COMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE 2024; 4:81. [PMID: 38710936 DOI: 10.1038/s43856-024-00508-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Participatory surveillance of self-reported symptoms and vaccination status can be used to supplement traditional public health surveillance and provide insights into vaccine effectiveness and changes in the symptoms produced by an infectious disease. The University of Maryland COVID Trends and Impact Survey provides an example of participatory surveillance that leveraged Facebook's active user base to provide self-reported symptom and vaccination data in near real-time. METHODS Here, we develop a methodology for identifying changes in vaccine effectiveness and COVID-19 symptomatology using the University of Maryland COVID Trends and Impact Survey data from three middle-income countries (Guatemala, Mexico, and South Africa). We implement conditional logistic regression to develop estimates of vaccine effectiveness conditioned on the prevalence of various definitions of self-reported COVID-like illness in lieu of confirmed diagnostic test results. RESULTS We highlight a reduction in vaccine effectiveness during Omicron-dominated waves of infections when compared to periods dominated by the Delta variant (median change across COVID-like illness definitions: -0.40, IQR[-0.45, -0.35]. Further, we identify a shift in COVID-19 symptomatology towards upper respiratory type symptoms (i.e., cough and sore throat) during Omicron periods of infections. Stratifying COVID-like illness by the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) description of mild and severe COVID-19 symptoms reveals a similar level of vaccine protection across different levels of COVID-19 severity during the Omicron period. CONCLUSIONS Participatory surveillance data alongside methodologies described in this study are particularly useful for resource-constrained settings where diagnostic testing results may be delayed or limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanner J Varrelman
- Computational Epidemiology Lab, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Benjamin Rader
- Computational Epidemiology Lab, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Christopher Remmel
- Computational Epidemiology Lab, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Gaurav Tuli
- Computational Epidemiology Lab, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Aimee R Han
- Computational Epidemiology Lab, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Christina M Astley
- Computational Epidemiology Lab, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - John S Brownstein
- Computational Epidemiology Lab, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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2
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Ansari AK, Pitamberwale A, Ansari SA, Mahmood T, Limgaokar K, Karki G, Singh L. Study of Biochemical Parameters as Predictors for Need of Invasive Ventilation in Severely Ill COVID-19 Patients. J Crit Care Med (Targu Mures) 2023; 9:262-270. [PMID: 37969877 PMCID: PMC10644279 DOI: 10.2478/jccm-2023-0030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Though laboratory tests have been shown to predict mortality in COVID-19, there is still a dearth of information regarding the role of biochemical parameters in predicting the type of ventilatory support that these patients may require. Methods The purpose of our retrospective observational study was to investigate the relationship between biochemical parameters and the type of ventilatory support needed for the intensive care of severely ill COVID-19 patients. We comprehensively recorded history, physical examination, vital signs from point-of-care testing (POCT) devices, clinical diagnosis, details of the ventilatory support required in intensive care and the results of the biochemical analysis at the time of admission. Appropriate statistical methods were used and P-values < 0.05 were considered significant. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was performed and Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.6 to 0.7, 0.7 to 0.8, 0.8 to 0.9, and >0.9, respectively, were regarded as acceptable, fair, good, and exceptional for discrimination. Results Statistically significant differences (p<0.05) in Urea (p = 0.0351), Sodium (p = 0.0142), Indirect Bilirubin (p = 0.0251), Albumin (p = 0.0272), Aspartate Transaminase (AST) (p = 0.0060) and Procalcitonin (PCT) (p = 0.0420) were observed between the patients who were maintained on non-invasive ventilations as compared to those who required invasive ventilation. In patients who required invasive ventilation, the levels of Urea, Sodium, Indirect bilirubin, AST and PCT were higher while Albumin was lower. On ROC analysis, higher levels of Albumin was found to be acceptable indicator of maintenance on non-invasive ventilation while higher levels of Sodium and PCT were found to be fair predictor of requirement of invasive ventilation. Conclusion Our study emphasizes the role of biochemical parameters in predicting the type of ventilatory support that is needed in order to properly manage severely ill COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azmat Kamal Ansari
- Shri Ram Murti Smarak Institute of Medical Sciences, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | | | | | - Tariq Mahmood
- Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College and Research Centre, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | | | - Geeta Karki
- Shri Ram Murti Smarak Institute of Medical Sciences, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Lalit Singh
- Shri Ram Murti Smarak Institute of Medical Sciences, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
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3
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Ferreira LMC, Reis IF, Martins PR, Marcolino-Junior LH, Bergamini MF, Camargo JR, Janegitz BC, Vicentini FC. Using low-cost disposable immunosensor based on flexible PET screen-printed electrode modified with carbon black and gold nanoparticles for sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2. TALANTA OPEN 2023; 7:100201. [PMID: 36959870 PMCID: PMC9998283 DOI: 10.1016/j.talo.2023.100201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
To help meet the global demand for reliable and inexpensive COVID-19 testing and environmental analysis of SARS-CoV-2, the present work reports the development and application of a highly efficient disposable electrochemical immunosensor for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in clinical and environmental matrices. The sensor developed is composed of a screen-printed electrode (SPE) array which was constructed using conductive carbon ink printed on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate made from disposable soft drink bottles. The recognition site (Spike S1 Antibody (anti-SP Ab)) was covalently immobilized on the working electrode surface, which was effectively modified with carbon black (CB) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The immunosensing material was subjected to a multi-technique characterization analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with elemental analysis via energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The electrochemical characterization of the electrode surface and analytical measurements were performed using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square-wave voltammetry (SWV). The immunosensor was easily applied for the conduct of rapid diagnoses or accurate quantitative environmental analyses by setting the incubation period to 10 min or 120 min. Under optimized conditions, the biosensor presented limits of detection (LODs) of 101 fg mL-1 and 46.2 fg mL-1 for 10 min and 120 min incubation periods, respectively; in addition, the sensor was successfully applied for SARS-CoV-2 detection and quantification in clinical and environmental samples. Considering the costs of all the raw materials required for manufacturing 200 units of the AuNP-CB/PET-SPE immunosensor, the production cost per unit is 0.29 USD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís M C Ferreira
- Center of Nature Sciences, Federal University of São Carlos, Rod. Lauri Simões de Barros km 12, 18290-000, Buri, SP, Brazil
| | - Isabela F Reis
- Center of Nature Sciences, Federal University of São Carlos, Rod. Lauri Simões de Barros km 12, 18290-000, Buri, SP, Brazil
| | - Paulo R Martins
- Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Goiás, Av. Esperança, Goiania, GO 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Luiz H Marcolino-Junior
- Laboratory of Electrochemical Sensors (LabSensE) - Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Paraná, 81.531-980, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Marcio F Bergamini
- Laboratory of Electrochemical Sensors (LabSensE) - Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Paraná, 81.531-980, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Jessica R Camargo
- Department of Nature Sciences, Mathematics and Education, Federal University of São Carlos, 13600-970, Araras, SP, Brazil
| | - Bruno C Janegitz
- Department of Nature Sciences, Mathematics and Education, Federal University of São Carlos, 13600-970, Araras, SP, Brazil
| | - Fernando C Vicentini
- Center of Nature Sciences, Federal University of São Carlos, Rod. Lauri Simões de Barros km 12, 18290-000, Buri, SP, Brazil
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4
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Petrazzuoli F, Collins C, Van Poel E, Tatsioni A, Streit S, Bojaj G, Asenova R, Hoffmann K, Gabrani J, Klemenc-Ketis Z, Rochfort A, Adler L, Windak A, Nessler K, Willems S. Differences between Rural and Urban Practices in the Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Outcomes from the PRICOV-19 Study in 38 Countries. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3674. [PMID: 36834369 PMCID: PMC9958860 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This paper explores the differences between rural and urban practices in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing aspects such as management of patient flow, infection prevention and control, information processing, communication and collaboration. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected through the online PRICOV-19 questionnaire sent to general practices in 38 countries. Rural practices in our sample were smaller than urban-based practices. They reported an above-average number of old and multimorbid patients and a below-average number of patients with a migrant background or financial problems. Rural practices were less likely to provide leaflets and information, but were more likely to have ceased using the waiting room or to have made structural changes to their waiting room and to have changed their prescribing practices in terms of patients attending the practices. They were less likely to perform video consultations or use electronic prescription methods. Our findings show the existence of certain issues that could impact patient safety in rural areas more than in urban areas due to the underlying differences in population profile and supports. These could be used to plan the organization of care for similar future pandemic situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferdinando Petrazzuoli
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Centre for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University, 21428 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Claire Collins
- Research Centre, Irish College of General Practitioners, D02 XR68 Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Esther Van Poel
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Athina Tatsioni
- Research Unit for General Medicine and Primary Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Sven Streit
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Gazmend Bojaj
- Department of Management of Health Services and Institution, Heimerer College, 1000 Pristina, Kosovo
| | - Radost Asenova
- Department of Urology and General Practice, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University Plovdiv, 4003 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Kathryn Hoffmann
- Department of Social- and Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jonila Gabrani
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Zalika Klemenc-Ketis
- Department of Family Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Maribor, Tabroska 8, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
- Department of Family Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Poljanski Nasip 58, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Ljubljana Community Health Centre, Metelkova 9, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Andrée Rochfort
- Research Centre, Irish College of General Practitioners, D02 XR68 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Limor Adler
- Department of Family Medicine, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6195001, Israel
| | - Adam Windak
- Department of Family Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-061 Krakow, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Nessler
- Department of Family Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-061 Krakow, Poland
| | - Sara Willems
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Romano ER, Sleeman K, Hall-Eidson P, Zeh C, Bhairavabhotla R, Zhang G, Adhikari A, Alemnji G, Cardo YR, Pinheiro A, Pocongo B, Eno LT, Shang JD, Ndongmo CB, Rosario H, Moreno O, De León LADLC, Fonjungo P, Kabwe C, Ahuke-Mundeke S, Gama D, Dlamini S, Maphalala G, Abreha T, Purfield A, Gebrehiwot YT, Desalegn DM, Basiye F, Mwangi J, Bowen N, Mengistu Y, Lecher S, Kampira E, Kaba M, Bitilinyu-Bangoh J, Masamha G, Viegas SO, Beard RS, van Rooyen G, Shiningavamwe AN, I J M, Iriemenam NC, Mba N, Okoi C, Katoro J, Kenyi DL, Bior BK, Mwangi C, Nabadda S, Kaleebu P, Yingst SL, Chikwanda P, Veri L, Simbi R, Alexander H. Contribution of PEPFAR-Supported HIV and TB Molecular Diagnostic Networks to COVID-19 Testing Preparedness in 16 Countries. Emerg Infect Dis 2022; 28:S59-S68. [PMID: 36502414 PMCID: PMC9745242 DOI: 10.3201/eid2813.220789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) supports molecular HIV and tuberculosis diagnostic networks and information management systems in low- and middle-income countries. We describe how national programs leveraged these PEPFAR-supported laboratory resources for SARS-CoV-2 testing during the COVID-19 pandemic. We sent a spreadsheet template consisting of 46 indicators for assessing the use of PEPFAR-supported diagnostic networks for COVID-19 pandemic response activities during April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021, to 27 PEPFAR-supported countries or regions. A total of 109 PEPFAR-supported centralized HIV viral load and early infant diagnosis laboratories and 138 decentralized HIV and TB sites reported performing SARS-CoV-2 testing in 16 countries. Together, these sites contributed to >3.4 million SARS-CoV-2 tests during the 1-year period. Our findings illustrate that PEPFAR-supported diagnostic networks provided a wide range of resources to respond to emergency COVID-19 diagnostic testing in 16 low- and middle-income countries.
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Aubourg MA, Bisimwa L, Bisimwa JC, Sanvura P, Williams C, Boroto R, Lunyelunye C, Timsifu J, Munyerenkana B, Endres K, Winch PJ, Bengehya J, Maheshe G, Cikomola C, Mwishingo A, George CM. A Qualitative Evaluation of COVID-19 Preventative Response Activities in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13424. [PMID: 36294005 PMCID: PMC9603344 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In this evaluation of COVID-19 preventative response programs in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), we aimed to explore community understandings of COVID-19, assess operational successes and challenges of COVID response activities, and identify barriers to practicing COVID-19 preventative behaviors. METHODS Thirty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted from April to September 2021 in South Kivu, DRC, with community members (n = 16) and programmatic stakeholders (n = 15) (healthcare providers, government officials, and developmental and NGO staff engaged in COVID-19 response). FINDINGS Most community members were aware of COVID-19 and its global burden, but few were aware of local transmission in their area. Some community members attributed COVID-19 to actions of malevolent neighbors, miasma ("bad air"), or spirits. Awareness of COVID-19 preventative measures was widespread, largely because of radio and TV health promotion programs. Community members and programmatic stakeholders both said community-level non-compliance to COVID-19 preventative measures was high despite high awareness of preventative methods. Community members expressed concern that face masks distributed as part of preventative programs contained the COVID-19 virus. Programmatic stakeholders emphasized the need for broader health system strengthening with improved coordination, provision of resources to health facilities at the provincial level, and prioritization of research. Lessons learned from addressing Ebola were leveraged for COVID-19 health promotion, rapid training of healthcare personnel, and surveillance. CONCLUSIONS Community-informed approaches are needed for effective COVID-19 preventative response programs in South Kivu, DRC. Our study identified successes and challenges in COVID-19 response activities. Future research should assess the effectiveness of integrating preventive programs with COVID-19 vaccination efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A. Aubourg
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Lucien Bisimwa
- Center for Tropical Diseases & Global Health, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu B.P 265, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Jean Claude Bisimwa
- Center for Tropical Diseases & Global Health, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu B.P 265, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Presence Sanvura
- Center for Tropical Diseases & Global Health, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu B.P 265, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Camille Williams
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Raissa Boroto
- Center for Tropical Diseases & Global Health, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu B.P 265, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Claude Lunyelunye
- Center for Tropical Diseases & Global Health, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu B.P 265, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Jessy Timsifu
- Center for Tropical Diseases & Global Health, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu B.P 265, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Brigitte Munyerenkana
- Center for Tropical Diseases & Global Health, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu B.P 265, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Kelly Endres
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Peter J. Winch
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Justin Bengehya
- Bureau de l’Information Sanitaire, Surveillance Epidémiologique et Recherche Scientifique, Division Provinciale de la Santé Sud Kivu, Ministère de la Santé, Bukavu B.P 265, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Ghislain Maheshe
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu B.P 265, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Cirhuza Cikomola
- Center for Tropical Diseases & Global Health, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu B.P 265, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu B.P 265, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Alain Mwishingo
- Center for Tropical Diseases & Global Health, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu B.P 265, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Christine Marie George
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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7
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Chen Q, Assefa Y, Wang P, Li G. Heterogeneity of the COVID-19 epidemic: what can we learn from it? Am J Transl Res 2022; 14:6846-6855. [PMID: 36398230 PMCID: PMC9641441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The goal of this article is to evaluate and explain the heterogeneity of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in Australia, to offer advice for stopping the current outbreak and preparing for a suitable response to epidemics in the future. METHODS We conducted a review to analyze the epidemic and explain its variable manifestation across states in Australia. Most COVID-19 cases and deaths were in the states of Victoria and New South Wales due to differences in the governance of the epidemic and public health responses (quarantine and contact tracing) among states. RESULTS Countries could learn from Australia's overall successful response not only through good governance, effective community participation, adequate public health, adequate health system capacity and multisectoral actions but also from the heterogeneity of the epidemic among states. CONCLUSIONS A successful response to epidemics in countries with a decentralized administration requires multilevel governance with alignment and harmonization of the response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuli Chen
- Department of Research and Development, Zhejiang Zhongwei Medical Research CenterHangzhou 310018, Zhejiang, China
- School of Public Health, The University of QueenslandBrisbane, Australia
| | - Yibeltal Assefa
- School of Public Health, The University of QueenslandBrisbane, Australia
| | - Peter Wang
- Department of Research and Development, Zhejiang Zhongwei Medical Research CenterHangzhou 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Guifen Li
- The First People’s Hospital of FuyangHangzhou 311400, Zhejiang, China
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8
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Kundro M, Losso M, Macchia A, Pastor I, Alonso Serena M, Gestoso C, Moreno Macías L, Crupi F, Acosta M, Ivalo S, Ghioldi M, Bouzas M, Mammana L, Zapiola I, Mazzitelli I, Varese A, Geffner J, Biscayart C, Angeleri P, Lopez E, Gentile A, Ferrante D, de Quiros FGB. Safety and immunogenicity of heterologous COVID-19 vaccine regimens to deal with product shortage: A randomised clinical trial in an elderly population. PUBLIC HEALTH IN PRACTICE 2022; 4:100313. [PMID: 36090797 PMCID: PMC9444309 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhip.2022.100313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives In a context of COVID-19 vaccine shortages, this study sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of receiving one dose of Gam-COVID-Vac rAd26 followed by a second COVID-19 vaccine dose of either Gam-COVID-Vac rAd5, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 or BBIBP-CorV in a cohort of older adults. Study design Single-centre, randomised, open label, non-inferiority trial. Methods Adults aged ≥65 years who had received one dose of Gam-COVID-Vac rAd26 were randomised in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive a second-dose COVID-19 vaccination of either Gam-COVID-Vac rAd5, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 or BBIBP-CorV. The primary outcome was the assessment of the humoral immune response to vaccination (i.e. antibody titres of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein at 28 days after second-dose vaccination). In addition, neutralising antibody titres at day 28 for the three schedules were measured. Results Of 85 participants who were enrolled in the study between 26 and July 30, 2021, 31 individuals were randomised to receive Gam-COVID-Vac rAd5, 27 to ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and 27 to BBIBP-CorV. The mean age of participants was 68.2 years (SD 2.9) and 49 (57.6%) were female. Participants who received Gam-COVID-Vac rAd5 and ChAdOx1 nCoV1-19 showed significantly increased anti-S titres at 28 days after second-dose vaccination, but this magnitude of difference was not observed for those who received BBIBP-CorV. The ratio between the geometric mean at day 28 and baseline within each group was 11.8 (6.98-19.89) among patients assigned to Gam-COVID-Vac rAd26/rAd5, 4.81 (2.14-10.81) for the rAd26/ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group and 1.53 (0.74-3.20) for the rAd26/BBIBP-CorV group. All of the schedules were shown to be safe. Conclusions The findings in this study contribute to the scarce information published on the safety and immunogenicity of Gam-COVID-Vac heterologous regimens and will help the development of guidelines and vaccine programme management.
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Affiliation(s)
- M.A. Kundro
- Área de Investigación en Enfermedades Emergentes, Hospital General de Agudos “J.M. Ramos Mejía”, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina,Corresponding author. Área de Investigación en Enfermedades Emergentes Departamento de Medicina Hospital J.M. Ramos Mejía Urquiza 609.Buenos Aires. Argentina.
| | - M.H. Losso
- Área de Investigación en Enfermedades Emergentes, Hospital General de Agudos “J.M. Ramos Mejía”, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A. Macchia
- Ministerio de Salud del Gobierno de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - I. Pastor
- Área de Investigación en Enfermedades Emergentes, Hospital General de Agudos “J.M. Ramos Mejía”, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M. Alonso Serena
- Área de Investigación en Enfermedades Emergentes, Hospital General de Agudos “J.M. Ramos Mejía”, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - C. Gestoso
- Área de Investigación en Enfermedades Emergentes, Hospital General de Agudos “J.M. Ramos Mejía”, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - L. Moreno Macías
- Área de Investigación en Enfermedades Emergentes, Hospital General de Agudos “J.M. Ramos Mejía”, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - F. Crupi
- Área de Investigación en Enfermedades Emergentes, Hospital General de Agudos “J.M. Ramos Mejía”, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M.C. Acosta
- Área de Investigación en Enfermedades Emergentes, Hospital General de Agudos “J.M. Ramos Mejía”, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - S. Ivalo
- Área de Investigación en Enfermedades Emergentes, Hospital General de Agudos “J.M. Ramos Mejía”, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M. Ghioldi
- Área de Investigación en Enfermedades Emergentes, Hospital General de Agudos “J.M. Ramos Mejía”, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M.B. Bouzas
- Unidad de Virología, División Análisis Clínicos, Hospital de Infecciosas “Francisco J. Muñiz", Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - L. Mammana
- Unidad de Virología, División Análisis Clínicos, Hospital de Infecciosas “Francisco J. Muñiz", Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - I. Zapiola
- Unidad de Virología, División Análisis Clínicos, Hospital de Infecciosas “Francisco J. Muñiz", Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - I. Mazzitelli
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA (INBIRS), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A. Varese
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA (INBIRS), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - J. Geffner
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA (INBIRS), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - C. Biscayart
- Subsecretaría de Planificación Sanitaria, Ministerio de Salud de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - P. Angeleri
- Subsecretaría de Planificación Sanitaria, Ministerio de Salud de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - E. Lopez
- Departamento de Medicina, Hospital de Niños “Ricardo Gutiérrez”, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A. Gentile
- Departamento de Epidemiología, Hospital de Niños “Ricardo Gutiérrez”, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - D. Ferrante
- Ministerio de Salud del Gobierno de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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9
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Al Huraimel K, Alhosani M, Gopalani H, Kunhabdulla S, Stietiya MH. Elucidating the role of environmental management of forests, air quality, solid waste and wastewater on the dissemination of SARS-CoV-2. HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ADVANCES 2022; 3:100006. [PMID: 37519421 PMCID: PMC9095661 DOI: 10.1016/j.heha.2022.100006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The increasing frequency of zoonotic diseases is amongst several catastrophic repercussions of inadequate environmental management. Emergence, prevalence, and lethality of zoonotic diseases is intrinsically linked to environmental management which are currently at a destructive level globally. The effects of these links are complicated and interdependent, creating an urgent need of elucidating the role of environmental mismanagement to improve our resilience to future pandemics. This review focused on the pertinent role of forests, outdoor air, indoor air, solid waste and wastewater management in COVID-19 dissemination to analyze the opportunities prevailing to control infectious diseases considering relevant data from previous disease outbreaks. Global forest management is currently detrimental and hotspots of forest fragmentation have demonstrated to result in zoonotic disease emergences. Deforestation is reported to increase susceptibility to COVID-19 due to wildfire induced pollution and loss of forest ecosystem services. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 like viruses in multiple animal species also point to the impacts of biodiversity loss and forest fragmentation in relation to COVID-19. Available literature on air quality and COVID-19 have provided insights into the potential of air pollutants acting as plausible virus carrier and aggravating immune responses and expression of ACE2 receptors. SARS-CoV-2 is detected in outdoor air, indoor air, solid waste, wastewater and shown to prevail on solid surfaces and aerosols for prolonged hours. Furthermore, lack of protection measures and safe disposal options in waste management are evoking concerns especially in underdeveloped countries due to high infectivity of SARS-CoV-2. Inadequate legal framework and non-adherence to environmental regulations were observed to aggravate the postulated risks and vulnerability to future waves of pandemics. Our understanding underlines the urgent need to reinforce the fragile status of global environmental management systems through the development of strict legislative frameworks and enforcement by providing institutional, financial and technical supports.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Al Huraimel
- Division of Consultancy, Research & Innovation (CRI), Sharjah Environment Company - Bee'ah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohamed Alhosani
- Division of Consultancy, Research & Innovation (CRI), Sharjah Environment Company - Bee'ah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hetasha Gopalani
- Division of Consultancy, Research & Innovation (CRI), Sharjah Environment Company - Bee'ah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Shabana Kunhabdulla
- Division of Consultancy, Research & Innovation (CRI), Sharjah Environment Company - Bee'ah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammed Hashem Stietiya
- Division of Consultancy, Research & Innovation (CRI), Sharjah Environment Company - Bee'ah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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10
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Van Ngoc H, Quyen TL, Vinayaka AC, Bang DD, Wolff A. Point-of-care system for rapid real-time detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus based on commercially available Arduino platforms. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:917573. [PMID: 35992344 PMCID: PMC9385952 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.917573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the importance of rapid, portable, and on-site testing technologies necessary for resource-limited settings for effective testing and screening to reduce spreading of the infection. Realizing this, we developed a fluorescence-based point-of-care (fPOC) detection system with real-time reverse transcriptase loop-mediated isothermal amplification for rapid and quantitative detection of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. The system is built based on the Arduino platform compatible with commercially available open-source hardware–software and off-the-shelf electronic components. The fPOC system comprises of three main components: 1) an instrument with integrated heaters, 2) optical detection components, and 3) an injection-molded polymeric cartridge. The system was tested and experimentally proved to be able to use for fast detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in real-time in less than 30 min. Preliminary results of testing the performance of the fPOC revealed that the fPOC could detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus at a limit of detection (LOD50%) at two to three copies/microliter (15.36 copies/reaction), which was comparable to reactions run on a standard commercial thermocycler. The performance of the fPOC was evaluated with 12 SARS-CoV-2 clinical throat swab samples that included seven positive and five negative samples, as confirmed by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. The fPOC showed 100% agreement with the commercial thermocycler. This simple design of the fPOC system demonstrates the potential to greatly enhance the practical applicability to develop a totally integrated point-of-care system for rapid on-site screening of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the management of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huynh Van Ngoc
- BioLabChip Group, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark (DTU-Bioengineering), Lyngby, Denmark
- *Correspondence: Huynh Van Ngoc, ; Anders Wolff,
| | - Than Linh Quyen
- BioLabChip Group, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark (DTU-Bioengineering), Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Aaydha Chidambara Vinayaka
- Laboratory of Applied Micro and Nanotechnology (LAMINATE), Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark (DTU-Bioengineering), Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Dang Duong Bang
- Laboratory of Applied Micro and Nanotechnology (LAMINATE), Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark (DTU-Bioengineering), Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anders Wolff
- BioLabChip Group, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark (DTU-Bioengineering), Lyngby, Denmark
- *Correspondence: Huynh Van Ngoc, ; Anders Wolff,
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11
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Beyazgul B, Koruk İ, Kuzan R. Effect of elderly individuals' perceptions and attitudes toward COVID-19 pandemic on rejecting COVID-19 vaccination. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2022; 18:2079338. [PMID: 35687362 PMCID: PMC9467538 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2079338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the fact that COVID-19 vaccines serve as an important tool for protection against COVID-19 infection, in individuals aged above 65 years, as well as the entire community, there are significant problems associated with getting vaccinated. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of perceptions and attitudes toward the COVID-19 epidemic in individuals over the age of 65 living in Şanlıurfa, Turkey in 2021, on the situation of having COVID-19 vaccination. The study is designed as a case-control type of research. The study population was comprised of individuals aged 65 years and above located in Şanlıurfa, Turkey. The Case Group consisted of individuals, who rejected the COVID-19 vaccination and the Control Group consisted of individuals who have received the vaccine. The individuals recruited in the Case and Control Groups were selected by means of the snowball sampling method. The study included a total of 240 individuals including 120 in the Case Group and 120 in the Control Group. Rate of vaccine rejection was higher in individuals who believed that the media exaggerated the pandemic, the disease had low contagiousness, the pandemic was a conspiracy, the environmental pollution had no role in the disease, the domestic measures taken against the epidemic were inadequate, the personal hygiene could not protect from disease, and who did not believe that the disease was inevitable [p < 0.05]. Governments have a lot of responsibilities in providing accurate information about vaccination to people and increasing confidence in the health system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burcu Beyazgul
- Harran University, Medical Faculty, Public Health Department, Şanlıurfa, Turkey
| | - İbrahim Koruk
- Harran University, Medical Faculty, Public Health Department, Şanlıurfa, Turkey
| | - Rüstem Kuzan
- Harran University, Medical Faculty, Public Health Department, Şanlıurfa, Turkey
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12
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Combining rapid antigen testing and syndromic surveillance improves community-based COVID-19 detection in a low-income country. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2877. [PMID: 35618714 PMCID: PMC9135686 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30640-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Diagnostics for COVID-19 detection are limited in many settings. Syndromic surveillance is often the only means to identify cases but lacks specificity. Rapid antigen testing is inexpensive and easy-to-deploy but can lack sensitivity. We examine how combining these approaches can improve surveillance for guiding interventions in low-income communities in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Rapid-antigen-testing with PCR validation was performed on 1172 symptomatically-identified individuals in their homes. Statistical models were fitted to predict PCR-status using rapid-antigen-test results, syndromic data, and their combination. Under contrasting epidemiological scenarios, the models’ predictive and classification performance was evaluated. Models combining rapid-antigen-testing and syndromic data yielded equal-to-better performance to rapid-antigen-test-only models across all scenarios with their best performance in the epidemic growth scenario. These results show that drawing on complementary strengths across rapid diagnostics, improves COVID-19 detection, and reduces false-positive and -negative diagnoses to match local requirements; improvements achievable without additional expense, or changes for patients or practitioners. Rapid antigen tests and syndromic surveillance for identification of COVID-19 cases are limited by low sensitivity and specificity, respectively. Here, the authors use data from Bangladesh and show that combining the two methods improves diagnostic accuracy in a range of epidemiological scenarios.
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13
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Hasan A, Biswas P, Bondhon TA, Jannat K, Paul TK, Paul AK, Jahan R, Nissapatorn V, Mahboob T, Wilairatana P, Hasan MN, de Lourdes Pereira M, Wiart C, Rahmatullah M. Can Artemisia herba-alba Be Useful for Managing COVID-19 and Comorbidities? Molecules 2022; 27:492. [PMID: 35056809 PMCID: PMC8779608 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27020492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The focus of this roadmap is to evaluate the possible efficacy of Artemisia herba-alba Asso. (Asteraceae) for the treatment of COVID-19 and some of its symptoms and several comorbidities using a combination of in silico (molecular docking) studies, reported ethnic uses, and pharmacological activity studies of this plant. In this exploratory study, we show that various phytochemicals from Artemisia herba-alba can be useful against COVID-19 (in silico studies) and for its associated comorbidities. COVID-19 is a new disease, so reports of any therapeutic treatments against it (traditional or conventional) are scanty. On the other hand, we demonstrate, using Artemisia herba-alba as an example, that through a proper search and identification of medicinal plant(s) and their phytochemicals identification using secondary data (published reports) on the plant's ethnic uses, phytochemical constituents, and pharmacological activities against COVID-19 comorbidities and symptoms coupled with the use of primary data obtained from in silico (molecular docking and molecular dynamics) studies on the binding of the selected plant's phytochemicals (such as: rutin, 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, and schaftoside) with various vital components of SARS-CoV-2, it may be possible to rapidly identify plants that are suitable for further research regarding therapeutic use against COVID-19 and its associated symptoms and comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anamul Hasan
- Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Lalmatia, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh; (A.H.); (T.A.B.); (K.J.); (T.K.P.); (R.J.)
| | - Partha Biswas
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore 7408, Bangladesh; (P.B.); (M.N.H.)
| | - Tohmina Afroze Bondhon
- Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Lalmatia, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh; (A.H.); (T.A.B.); (K.J.); (T.K.P.); (R.J.)
| | - Khoshnur Jannat
- Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Lalmatia, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh; (A.H.); (T.A.B.); (K.J.); (T.K.P.); (R.J.)
| | - Tridib K. Paul
- Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Lalmatia, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh; (A.H.); (T.A.B.); (K.J.); (T.K.P.); (R.J.)
| | - Alok K. Paul
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia;
| | - Rownak Jahan
- Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Lalmatia, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh; (A.H.); (T.A.B.); (K.J.); (T.K.P.); (R.J.)
| | - Veeranoot Nissapatorn
- School of Allied Health Sciences, World Union for Herbal Drug Discovery (WUHeDD) and Research Excellence Center for Innovation and Health Products (RECIHP), Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand; (V.N.); (T.M.)
| | - Tooba Mahboob
- School of Allied Health Sciences, World Union for Herbal Drug Discovery (WUHeDD) and Research Excellence Center for Innovation and Health Products (RECIHP), Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand; (V.N.); (T.M.)
| | - Polrat Wilairatana
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Md Nazmul Hasan
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore 7408, Bangladesh; (P.B.); (M.N.H.)
| | - Maria de Lourdes Pereira
- CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials and Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal;
| | - Christophe Wiart
- The Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia;
| | - Mohammed Rahmatullah
- Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Lalmatia, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh; (A.H.); (T.A.B.); (K.J.); (T.K.P.); (R.J.)
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14
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Kendall EA, Arinaminpathy N, Sacks JA, Manabe YC, Dittrich S, Schumacher SG, Dowdy DW. Antigen-based Rapid Diagnostic Testing or Alternatives for Diagnosis of Symptomatic COVID-19: A Simulation-based Net Benefit Analysis. Epidemiology 2021; 32:811-819. [PMID: 34292212 PMCID: PMC8478097 DOI: 10.1097/ede.0000000000001400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND SARS-CoV-2 antigen-detection rapid diagnostic tests can diagnose COVID-19 rapidly and at low cost, but lower sensitivity compared with reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has limited clinical adoption. METHODS We compared antigen testing, PCR testing, and clinical judgment alone for diagnosing symptomatic COVID-19 in an outpatient setting (10% COVID-19 prevalence among the patients tested, 3-day PCR turnaround) and a hospital setting (40% prevalence, 24-hour PCR turnaround). We simulated transmission from cases and contacts, and relationships between time, viral burden, transmission, and case detection. We compared diagnostic approaches using a measure of net benefit that incorporated both clinical and public health benefits and harms of the intervention. RESULTS In the outpatient setting, we estimated that using antigen testing instead of PCR to test 200 individuals could be equivalent to preventing all symptomatic transmission from one person with COVID-19 (one "transmission-equivalent"). In a hospital, net benefit analysis favored PCR and testing 25 patients with PCR instead of antigen testing achieved one transmission-equivalent of benefit. In both settings, antigen testing was preferable to PCR if PCR turnaround time exceeded 2 days. Both tests provided greater net benefit than management based on clinical judgment alone unless intervention carried minimal harm and was provided equally regardless of diagnostic approach. CONCLUSIONS For diagnosis of symptomatic COVID-19, we estimated that the speed of diagnosis with antigen testing is likely to outweigh its lower accuracy compared with PCR, wherever PCR turnaround time is 2 days or longer. This advantage may be even greater if antigen tests are also less expensive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A. Kendall
- From the Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Nimalan Arinaminpathy
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Jilian A. Sacks
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yukari C. Manabe
- From the Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Sabine Dittrich
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel G. Schumacher
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - David W. Dowdy
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Geneva, Switzerland
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15
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Gashaw T, Hagos B, Sisay M. Expected Impacts of COVID-19: Considering Resource-Limited Countries and Vulnerable Population. Front Public Health 2021; 9:614789. [PMID: 34026704 PMCID: PMC8131657 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.614789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease in 2019 emerged in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, in December 2019. After a month, it was declared a global threat to public health. The effects of the pandemic could be socio-economic, undermining the health system and risking livelihoods. Vulnerability to this infection has been associated with underlying comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, cancer, and compromised immune systems. Co-morbidity has been common to the elderly, the disabled, and the homeless. In addition, more severe coronavirus disease outcomes have been reported in older males than females. Nonetheless, multiple variables are related to the concept of cultural gender that should be taken into account as women in more affected sectors are economically disadvantageous and over-represented. Similarly, although children are not the face of this pandemic, calamity has a profound effect on their welfare, especially for those living in poor and inconvenient situations. Moreover, the economic influence could be profound and universal when viewed through a migration lens as it is exacerbating xenophobic and discriminatory treatment. Protection measures to mitigate the outbreak of a pandemic, such as social distancing, may reduce social support for certain categories relied on for their day-to-day activities. The mental health of people would definitely be affected by the additional psychosocial burden of the pandemic, particularly in vulnerable groups. Integrated approaches are therefore mandatory to assist these groups and contain the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tigist Gashaw
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia
| | - Bisrat Hagos
- Department of Social Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia
| | - Mekonnen Sisay
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia
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