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Domaradzki J, Czekajewska J, Walkowiak D. Trust and Support for Cancer Research Biobanks: Insights from Cancer Patients in Poland. Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e944263. [PMID: 38867418 PMCID: PMC11184987 DOI: 10.12659/msm.944263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biobanks are legally regulated entities that acquire, store, prepare, preserve, test, analyze, and distribute defined biological material and related information and data from human sources. This study aimed to evaluate trust, support and willingness to donate personal data and tissue samples for biobanking from cancer patients attending oncology departments in Poznań, Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study utilized data from questionnaire-based survey conducted from February to June 2023 among 548 patients from 2 Poznań hospitals equipped with oncology treatment units. The survey employed convenience sampling. Statistical analysis was carried out using JASP 0.18.3 and PQStat1.8.6., with significance levels set at 0.05. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were utilized to present the results. RESULTS 92.2% of cancer patients supported the establishment of cancer research biobank in Poland, and 93.1% declared the willingness to share their cancer tissues for research purposes. Patients' willingness to donate was associated with biomedical research conducted by biobanks and types of biobank institutions. Most patients were willing to donate for research on cancer, genetic and autoimmune diseases or dementia, but were reluctant to participate in research on sexual identity, intelligence, aggression and for-profit research. Patients were willing to donate to biobanks managed by medical universities, public institutions, clinical hospitals and national biobanks but not to foreign and private biobanks. CONCLUSIONS Although patients' support for cancer biobank is high it is not unconditional as their willingness to participate in cancer-related research is associated with types of biomedical research conducted by biobanks and different types of biobank institutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Domaradzki
- Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Justyna Czekajewska
- Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Dariusz Walkowiak
- Department of Organization and Management in Health Care, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
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2
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Fereidouni Z, Karimi Z, Mirshah E, Keyvanloo Shahrestanaki S, Amrollah majdabadi Z, Behnammoghadam M, Mirzaee MS. Lived experiences of COVID-19 disease: a qualitative meta-synthesis. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2024; 86:3442-3450. [PMID: 38846827 PMCID: PMC11152807 DOI: 10.1097/ms9.0000000000001047] [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: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, various aspects of human life were changed around the world. The present study aimed to provide a systematic review of the available evidence on lived experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This is a systematic review of the meta-synthesis type. Evidence from studies from 2019 to 2021 was used. Keywords of lived experiences, experiences, people, nation, patients, community, COVID-19, corona, and corona disease were searched in PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to evaluate the quality of articles. A qualitative meta-synthesis was performed by a researcher based on a three-step meta-synthesis method described by Thomas and colleagues. MAXQDA 10 was used for data analysis. The present study is based on the guidelines for Enhancing transparency in reporting the meta-synthesis of qualitative research (ENTREQ). The reliability of this study had a Kappa coefficient of 0.660 with a consistency rate of 98.766%. Results Finally, the data from 11 articles were analyzed. The main and sub-themes obtained in this study included negative aspects (chaos, hustle associated, dualities, bad body, value decay, seclusion, psychological challenges) as well as positive aspects (opportunities arising from the individual, family, and social stability). Conclusion Problems of life during COVID-19 should be considered as part of the COVID-19 pandemic care program. Individual assessments should normally be considered in a public health crisis. It is recommended to conduct serious, in-depth, and practical research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhila Fereidouni
- Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Nursing School, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Fars
| | - Zohreh Karimi
- Department of Operating Room, School of Paramedicine, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj
| | - Elham Mirshah
- Instructure of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of medical sciences, Shiraz
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3
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Domaradzki J, Jabkowski P, Walkowiak D. Investigating Beliefs in Anti-Vax Conspiracy Theories among Medical Students. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:359. [PMID: 38675741 PMCID: PMC11054095 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12040359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
While the doctors' role in immunization is essential, their lack of knowledge or vaccine hesitancy may affect their ability to communicate effectively and educate patients about vaccination, vaccine hesitancy, and vaccine conspiracy theories. This, in turn, may hinder health policy aimed at fighting infectious diseases. Vaccine hesitancy is prevalent not only among the general population but also among healthcare workers; thus, this study is aimed at assessing future doctors' attitudes towards anti-vax conspiracy theories. A total of 441 medical students at Poznan University of Medical Sciences completed a web-based survey designed to explore their attitudes toward the six most prevalent anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. The survey showed that although over 97% of future doctors support vaccinations as an effective form of fighting infectious diseases, and 80% did not believe in any anti-vax conspiracy theory, a significant fraction of 20% of medical students either believed in at least one such theory or were unsure. It has also shown that male and younger students who had not received a flu vaccination and defined themselves as politically right-wing or conservative and religious were more likely to believe in anti-vax conspiracy theories. Our data suggest that, in order to overcome medical students' ambivalent attitudes towards anti-vax conspiracy theories, they should receive more education about the importance of vaccination in preventing disease and about effective ways to combat vaccine hesitancy and anti-vax conspiracy theories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Domaradzki
- Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 7, 60-806 Poznań, Poland
| | - Piotr Jabkowski
- Faculty of Sociology, Adam Mickiewicz University, 60-568 Poznań, Poland
| | - Dariusz Walkowiak
- Department of Organization and Management in Health Care, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-356 Poznań, Poland
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4
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Shmueli M, Lendner I, Ben-Shimol S. Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the pediatric infectious disease landscape. Eur J Pediatr 2024; 183:1001-1009. [PMID: 37726566 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-023-05210-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
This narrative review aims to present an overview of the COVID-19 pandemic's effects on the landscape of pediatric infectious diseases. While COVID-19 generally results in mild symptoms and a favorable prognosis in children, the pandemic brought forth significant consequences. These included persistent symptoms among infected children ("long COVID"), a profound transformation in healthcare utilization (notably through the widespread adoption of telemedicine), and the implementation of optimization strategies within healthcare settings. Furthermore, the pandemic resulted in alterations in the circulation patterns of respiratory pathogens, including influenza, RSV, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. The possible reasons for those changes are discussed in this review. COVID-19 effect was not limited to respiratory infectious diseases, as other diseases, including urinary tract and gastrointestinal infections, have displayed decreased transmission rates, likely attributable to heightened hygiene measures and shifts in care-seeking behaviors. Finally, the disruption of routine childhood vaccination programs has resulted in reduced immunization coverage and an upsurge in vaccine hesitancy. In addition, the pandemic was associated with issues of antibiotic misuse and over-prescription. Conclusion: In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has left a profound and multifaceted impact on the landscape of pediatric infectious diseases, ranging from the emergence of "long COVID" in children to significant changes in healthcare delivery, altered circulation patterns of various pathogens, and concerning disruptions in vaccination programs and antibiotic usage. What is Known: • COVID-19 usually presents with mild symptoms in children, although severe and late manifestations are possible. • The pandemic resulted in a dramatically increased use of health care services, as well as alterations in the circulation patterns of respiratory pathogens, decreased rates of other, non-respiratory, infections, disruption of routine childhood vaccination programs, and antibiotic misuse. What is New: • Possible strategies to tackle future outbreaks are presented, including changes in health care services utilization, implementation of updated vaccine programs and antibiotic stewardship protocols. • The decline in RSV and influenza circulation during COVID-19 was probably not primarily related to NPI measures, and rather related to other, non-NPI measures implementation, including specific pathogen-host interactions on the level of the biological niche (the nasopharynx).
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Affiliation(s)
- Moshe Shmueli
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Idan Lendner
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
- Pediatric Department B, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Shalom Ben-Shimol
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
- Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel.
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5
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Akilimali PZ, Egbende L, Kayembe DM, Kabasubabo F, Kazenza B, Botomba S, Tran NT, Mashinda DK. COVID-19 Vaccine Coverage and Factors Associated with Vaccine Hesitancy: A Cross-Sectional Survey in the City of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:188. [PMID: 38400171 PMCID: PMC10892748 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12020188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Vaccination against COVID-19 has been the main strategy used by most countries to limit the spread of the virus. However, vaccine uptake has been low in Africa, leading to the implementation of several interventions in order to improve vaccine coverage. This study was conducted due to the lack of information about COVID-19 vaccine coverage and the factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. This cross-sectional study was carried out in Kinshasa city using multi-stage random sampling. A total of 2160 households were included in this study. The data were analyzed using Stata 17 software. The means and standard deviations were computed for continuous data that followed a normal distribution, whereas proportions together with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed for categorical variables. The connections between dependent variables and each independent variable were tested using either Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. The logistic regression method was employed to determine the factors that are linked to hesitation in obtaining the COVID-19 immunization. The majority of respondents were aged between 25 and 34 and 35 and 49 (28.9%). During this study, 15% (95% CI [13.25-17.9]) of respondents had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The prevalence of vaccine hesitancy was 67% (CI95%:64.9-69.1). Among the reasons given for refusing to be vaccinated, most respondents cited concerns about the vaccine being unsafe or causing adverse reactions (45%). Among the reasons given for accepting the vaccine, 26% thought that the vaccine prevented superinfection. The factors associated with hesitancy toward the COVID-19 vaccine were female gender, an age of less than 35 years, and living in non-slum households. Despite the interventions implemented across the country, the reluctance to be vaccinated remains a problem; this could lead to poor health outcomes, especially among the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions. It is important to step up awareness-raising campaigns in the community in order to increase the uptake of vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Z. Akilimali
- Patrick Kayembe Research Center, Kinshasa School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa P.O. Box 11850, Congo; (D.M.K.); (F.K.)
- Department of Nutrition, Kinshasa School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa P.O. Box 11850, Congo; (L.E.); (B.K.); (S.B.)
| | - Landry Egbende
- Department of Nutrition, Kinshasa School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa P.O. Box 11850, Congo; (L.E.); (B.K.); (S.B.)
| | - Dynah M. Kayembe
- Patrick Kayembe Research Center, Kinshasa School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa P.O. Box 11850, Congo; (D.M.K.); (F.K.)
| | - Francis Kabasubabo
- Patrick Kayembe Research Center, Kinshasa School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa P.O. Box 11850, Congo; (D.M.K.); (F.K.)
| | - Benito Kazenza
- Department of Nutrition, Kinshasa School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa P.O. Box 11850, Congo; (L.E.); (B.K.); (S.B.)
| | - Steve Botomba
- Department of Nutrition, Kinshasa School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa P.O. Box 11850, Congo; (L.E.); (B.K.); (S.B.)
| | - Nguyen Toan Tran
- Australian Centre for Public and Population Health Research, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, P.O. Box 123, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia;
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1206 Genève, Switzerland
| | - Désiré K. Mashinda
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Kinshasa School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa P.O. Box 11850, Congo;
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6
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Ruggeri K, Vanderslott S, Yamada Y, Argyris YA, Većkalov B, Boggio PS, Fallah MP, Stock F, Hertwig R. Behavioural interventions to reduce vaccine hesitancy driven by misinformation on social media. BMJ 2024; 384:e076542. [PMID: 38228339 PMCID: PMC10789192 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2023-076542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Kai Ruggeri
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Samantha Vanderslott
- Vaccines and Society Unit, Oxford Vaccine Group, Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Churchill Hospital, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Yuki Yamada
- Faculty of Arts and Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Young Anna Argyris
- Department of Media and Information, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Bojana Većkalov
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Paulo Sergio Boggio
- Cognitive and Social Neuroscience Laboratory, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mosoka P Fallah
- Saving Lives and Livelihoods, Africa Center for Disease Control, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Friederike Stock
- Center for Adaptive Rationality, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ralph Hertwig
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
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7
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Tang S, Ji L, Bishwajit G, Guo S. Uptake of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines in relation to preexisting chronic conditions in the European countries. BMC Geriatr 2024; 24:56. [PMID: 38216899 PMCID: PMC10785450 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-023-04623-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The suboptimal uptake of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines among those with non-communicable chronic diseases is a public health concern, because it poses a higher risk of severe illness for individuals with underlying health conditions, emphasizing the need to address barriers to vaccination and ensure adequate protection for this vulnerable population. In the present study, we aimed to identify whether people with chronic illnesses are more likely to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and influenza in the European Union. METHODS Cross-sectional data on 49,253 men (n = 20,569) and women (n = 28,684) were obtained from the ninth round of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (June - August, 2021). The outcome variables were self-reported COVID-19 and influenza vaccine uptake status. The association between the uptake of the vaccines and six preexisting conditions including high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, chronic lung disease, diabetes, chronic bronchitis, and asthma was estimated using binary logistic regression methods. RESULTS The vaccination coverage for COVID-19 ranged from close to 100% in Denmark (98.2%) and Malta (98.2%) to less than 50% in Bulgaria (19.1%) and Romania (32.7%). The countries with the highest percentage of participants with the influenza vaccine included Malta (66.7%), Spain (63.7%) and the Netherlands (62.5%), and those with the lowest percentage included Bulgaria (3.7%), Slovakia (5.8%) and Poland (9.2%). Participants with high blood pressure were 3% less likely [Risk difference (RD) = -0.03, 95% CI = -0.04, -0.03] to report taking COVID-19 and influenza [RD = -0.03, 95% CI= -0.04, -0.01] vaccine. Those with chronic lung disease were 4% less likely [RD = -0.04, 95% CI= -0.06, -0.03] to report taking COVID-19 and 2% less likely [RD= -0.02, 95% CI = -0.04, -0.01] to report taking influenza vaccine. Men and women with high blood pressure were 3% less likely to have reported taking both of the vaccines. CONCLUSIONS Current findings indicate a suboptimal uptake of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines among adult men and women in the EU countries. Those with preexisting conditions, including high blood pressure and chronic lung disease are less likely to take the vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shangfeng Tang
- School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lu Ji
- School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ghose Bishwajit
- Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shuyan Guo
- National Institute of Hospital Administration, National Health Commission, Beijing, China.
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Sarker P, Haq MA, Akhtar E, Roy AK, Hosen MB, Huda TMN, Akter S, Ahmed R, Chowdhury MR, Ferdous J, Vandenent M, Islam MZ, Zaman RU, Arifeen SE, Razzaque A, Raqib R. Serosurveillance among urban slum and non-slum populations immunized with COVID-19 vaccines in Bangladesh. Epidemiol Infect 2024; 152:e14. [PMID: 38178722 PMCID: PMC10804132 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268823001942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Using two rounds of serosurveillance, we aimed to observe the COVID-19 vaccination status and the dynamics of antibody responses to different vaccines among urban slum and non-slum populations of Bangladesh. Adults (>18 years) and children (10-17 years) were enrolled in March and October 2022. Data including COVID-19 vaccine types and dosage uptake were collected. SARS-CoV-2 spike (S)-specific antibodies were measured in blood. The proportion of vaccinated children was significantly lower among slum than non-slum populations. Two doses of vaccines showed an increase in the level of anti-S-antibodies up to 2 months, followed by reduced levels at 2-6 months and a resurgence at 6-12 months. Children showed significantly higher anti-S-antibodies after two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine than adults; however, after 6 months, the level of antibodies declined in younger children (10 - < 12 years). In a mixed vaccine approach, mRNA vaccines contributed to the highest antibody response whether given as the first two doses or as the third dose. Our findings emphasized the need for increasing the coverage of COVID-19 vaccination among slum children and booster dosing among all children. The use of mRNA vaccines in the mixed vaccination approach was found to be useful in boosting the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Protim Sarker
- International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Ahsanul Haq
- International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Evana Akhtar
- International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Anjan Kumar Roy
- International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Biplob Hosen
- International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Tarique Mohammad Nurul Huda
- International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Department of Public Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Qassim University, Al Bukairiyah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sharmin Akter
- International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Razu Ahmed
- International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Razib Chowdhury
- International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | | | | | | | - Shams-El Arifeen
- International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Abdur Razzaque
- International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Rubhana Raqib
- International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
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9
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Li G, Zhang R, Song B, Wang C, Shen Q, He X, Cao Y. Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines on Sperm Quality: Systematic Review. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2023; 9:e48511. [PMID: 37976132 DOI: 10.2196/48511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has triggered a global public health crisis of unprecedented proportions. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is a highly effective strategy for preventing infections and severe COVID-19 outcomes. Although several studies have concluded that COVID-19 vaccines are unlikely to affect fertility, concerns have arisen regarding adverse events, including the potential impact on fertility; these concerns are plagued by limited and inconsistent evidence. OBJECTIVE This review aims to provide a recent assessment of the literature on the impact of COVID-19 vaccines on male sperm quality. The possible impact of COVID-19 vaccines on fertility potential was also examined to draw a clearer picture and to evaluate the effects of COVID-19 on male reproductive health. METHODS PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched from their inception to October 2023. Eligible studies included articles reporting SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and human semen quality and fertility, as well as the impact of vaccination on assisted reproductive technology treatment outcomes. The quality of cohort studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and the quality of cross-sectional studies was assessed using the quality evaluation criteria recommended by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The systematic review followed PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. RESULTS The initial literature search yielded 4691 records by searching 5 peer-reviewed databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane). Finally, 24 relevant studies were selected for our study. There were evident research inequalities at the regional level, with the United States and Western European countries contributing 38% (9/24) of the studies, Middle Eastern countries contributing 38% (9/24), China accounting for 21% (5/24), and Africa and South America accounting for none. Nonetheless, the overall quality of the included studies was generally good. Our results demonstrated that serious side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine are extremely rare, and men experience few problems with sperm parameters or reproductive potential after vaccination. CONCLUSIONS On the basis of the studies published so far, the COVID-19 vaccine is safe for male reproductive health. Obviously, vaccination is a wise option rather than experience serious adverse symptoms of viral infections. These instances of evidence may help reduce vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccination coverage, particularly among reproductive-age couples. As new controlled trials and prospective cohort studies with larger sample sizes emerge, the possibility of a negative effect of the COVID-19 vaccine on sperm quality must be further clarified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanjian Li
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, China
| | - Rongqiu Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, the Affiliated Jinyang Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
- The Second People's Hospital of Guiyang, Guiyang, China
| | - Bing Song
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, China
| | - Chao Wang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, China
| | - Qunshan Shen
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Human Sperm Bank, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, China
| | - Xiaojin He
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, China
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10
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Cogan N, Mcinnes L, Lingg V, Flowers P, Rasmussen S, Williams L. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among health and social care workers during mass vaccination in Scotland. PSYCHOL HEALTH MED 2023; 28:2938-2952. [PMID: 36082425 DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2022.2121975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Health and social care workers (HSCWs) have an essential role in the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccination is an emotionally charged issue and perceptions of risk associated with COVID19 can contribute towards vaccine hesitancy (VH). The aim of this study was to explore the role of emotion and risk perception associated with HSCWs' uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine during the initial mass roll-out of the vaccine in Scotland. A cross-sectional online survey with a correlational design was used. An online survey was conducted with HSCWs (N = 1189) aged 18 to 67 years (M = 44.09 yrs, SD = 11.48) working in Scotland during the third lockdown period (26 December - 31 March 2021) of the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey collected data relating to sociodemographic characteristics, vaccine uptake and VH, emotions associated with the COVID-19 vaccine, and risk perception. Open-ended free text data were also collected on HSCWs' main reasons for VH. Most participants (83.96%) felt positively about the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine, stating it would be beneficial for themselves and others to receive it. Nonetheless, 16.04% of HSCWs expressed VH. Occupational group, age, gender and risk perceptions did not affect variance in VH, but positive emotions associated with the COVID-19 vaccine and years of experience did. We emphasise the importance of future interventions to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake by enhancing positive emotions and reducing ambivalent emotions associated with the COVID-19 vaccine particularly among less experienced HSCWs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Cogan
- School of Psychological Sciences & Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Lisa Mcinnes
- School of Psychological Sciences & Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Vanissia Lingg
- School of Psychological Sciences & Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Paul Flowers
- School of Psychological Sciences & Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Susan Rasmussen
- School of Psychological Sciences & Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Lynn Williams
- School of Psychological Sciences & Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland
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11
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Klaesson J, Lobo J, Mellander C. Social interactions and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: Evidence from a full population study in Sweden. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289309. [PMID: 37983227 PMCID: PMC10659190 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigate whether an individual's information milieu-an individual's residential neighborhood and co-workers-affects the decision to get a COVID-19 vaccine. The decision to accept or refuse a vaccine is intensely personal and involves the processing of information about phenomena likely to be unfamiliar to most individuals. One can thus expect an interplay between an individual's level of education and skills and the information processing of others whom with whom she can interact and whose decision she can probe and observe. Using individual-level data for adults in Sweden, we can identify the proportion of an individual's neighborhood and workplace who are unvaccinated as indicators of possible peer effects. We find that individuals with low levels of educational attainment and occupational skills are more likely to be unvaccinated when exposed to other unvaccinated individuals at work and in the residential neighborhood. The peer effects in each of these information milieus further increases the likelihood of not getting vaccinated-with the two acting as information channels that reinforce one another.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Klaesson
- Jönköping International Business School, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden
- Institute of Retail Economics (HFI), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - José Lobo
- Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States of America
| | - Charlotta Mellander
- Jönköping International Business School, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden
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12
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Zhou X, Song S, Zhang Y, Hou Z. Deep Learning Analysis of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Confidence Expressed on Twitter in 6 High-Income Countries: Longitudinal Observational Study. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e49753. [PMID: 37930788 PMCID: PMC10629504 DOI: 10.2196/49753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An ongoing monitoring of national and subnational trajectory of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy could offer support in designing tailored policies on improving vaccine uptake. OBJECTIVE We aim to track the temporal and spatial distribution of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and confidence expressed on Twitter during the entire pandemic period in major English-speaking countries. METHODS We collected 5,257,385 English-language tweets regarding COVID-19 vaccination between January 1, 2020, and June 30, 2022, in 6 countries-the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Ireland. Transformer-based deep learning models were developed to classify each tweet as intent to accept or reject COVID-19 vaccination and the belief that COVID-19 vaccine is effective or unsafe. Sociodemographic factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and confidence in the United States were analyzed using bivariate and multivariable linear regressions. RESULTS The 6 countries experienced similar evolving trends of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and confidence. On average, the prevalence of intent to accept COVID-19 vaccination decreased from 71.38% of 44,944 tweets in March 2020 to 34.85% of 48,167 tweets in June 2022 with fluctuations. The prevalence of believing COVID-19 vaccines to be unsafe continuously rose by 7.49 times from March 2020 (2.84% of 44,944 tweets) to June 2022 (21.27% of 48,167 tweets). COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and confidence varied by country, vaccine manufacturer, and states within a country. The democrat party and higher vaccine confidence were significantly associated with lower vaccine hesitancy across US states. CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and confidence evolved and were influenced by the development of vaccines and viruses during the pandemic. Large-scale self-generated discourses on social media and deep learning models provide a cost-efficient approach to monitoring routine vaccine hesitancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Zhou
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Global Health Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Suhang Song
- Department of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Ying Zhang
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Global Health Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiyuan Hou
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Global Health Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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13
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Lun P, Ning K, Wang Y, Ma TSW, Flores FP, Xiao X, Subramaniam M, Abdin E, Tian L, Tsang TK, Leung K, Wu JT, Cowling BJ, Leung GM, Ni MY. COVID-19 Vaccination Willingness and Reasons for Vaccine Refusal. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2337909. [PMID: 37856125 PMCID: PMC10587797 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.37909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Hong Kong was held as an exemplar for pandemic response until it recorded the world's highest daily COVID-19 mortality, which was likely due to vaccine refusal. To prevent this high mortality in future pandemics, information on underlying reasons for vaccine refusal is necessary. Objectives To track the evolution of COVID-19 vaccination willingness and uptake from before vaccine rollout to mass vaccination, to examine factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine refusal and compare with data from Singapore, and to assess the population attributable fraction for vaccine refusal. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study used data from randomly sampled participants from 14 waves of population-based studies in Hong Kong (February 2020 to May 2022) and 2 waves of population-based studies in Singapore (May 2020 to June 2021 and October 2021 to January 2022), and a population-wide registry of COVID-19 vaccination appointments. Data were analyzed from February 23, 2021, to May 30, 2022. Exposures Trust in COVID-19 vaccine information sources (ie, health authorities, physicians, traditional media, and social media); COVID-19 vaccine confidence on effectiveness, safety, and importance; COVID-19 vaccine misconceptions on safety and high-risk groups; political views; and COVID-19 policies (ie, workplace vaccine mandates and vaccine pass). Main Outcomes and Measures Primary outcomes were the weighted prevalence of COVID-19 vaccination willingness over the pandemic, adjusted incidence rate ratios, and population attributable fractions of COVID-19 vaccine refusal. A secondary outcome was change in daily COVID-19 vaccination appointments. Results The study included 28 007 interviews from 20 waves of longitudinal data, with 1114 participants in the most recent wave (median [range] age, 54.2 years [20-92] years; 571 [51.3%] female). Four factors-mistrust in health authorities, low vaccine confidence, vaccine misconceptions, and political views-could jointly account for 82.2% (95% CI, 62.3%-100.0%) of vaccine refusal in adults aged 18 to 59 years and 69.3% (95% CI, 47.2%-91.4%) of vaccine refusal in adults aged 60 years and older. Workplace vaccine mandates were associated with 62.2% (95% CI, 9.9%-139.2%) increases in daily COVID-19 vaccination appointments, and the Hong Kong vaccine pass was associated with 124.8% (95% CI, 65.9%-204.6%) increases in daily COVID-19 vaccination appointments. Conclusions and Relevance These findings suggest that trust in health authorities was fundamental to overcoming vaccine hesitancy. As such, engendering trust in health care professionals, experts, and public health agencies should be incorporated into pandemic preparedness and response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phyllis Lun
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Ke Ning
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Yishan Wang
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Tiffany S. W. Ma
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Francis P. Flores
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Xiao Xiao
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Mythily Subramaniam
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Linwei Tian
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Tim K. Tsang
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Kathy Leung
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Joseph T. Wu
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Benjamin J. Cowling
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Gabriel M. Leung
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Michael Y. Ni
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Urban System Institute, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
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14
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Okuhara T, Okada H, Kiuchi T. Addressing message fatigue for encouraging COVID-19 vaccination. JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION IN HEALTHCARE 2023; 16:298-303. [PMID: 37115094 DOI: 10.1080/17538068.2023.2207246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
During the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, health communication researchers and practitioners should be aware of the unintended effects of message fatigue. Message fatigue is a motivational state caused by repeated and prolonged exposure to similar health-related messages that induces resistance to health behaviors. Messages encouraging COVID-19 vaccination tend to focus on scientific evidence and efficacy information. However, prolonged exposure to similarly framed repeated pro-COVID-19 vaccination messages may cause message fatigue, generate psychological reactance, and lead to ineffective persuasive outcomes. Scholars of message fatigue argue that health communication practitioners should select a less common frame to reduce fatigue responses and increase favorable attitudes toward message recommendations. Entering the second year since COVID-19 vaccination has begun, to reduce message fatigue, future pro-COVID-19 vaccination communication should increase the diversity of messages different than the frequently used types. This opinion piece proposes alternative dissemination of cognitive, affective, narrative, and non-narrative pro-COVID-19 vaccination messages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsuyoshi Okuhara
- Department of Health Communication, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroko Okada
- Department of Health Communication, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takahiro Kiuchi
- Department of Health Communication, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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15
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Glette-Iversen I, Aven T, Flage R. A risk science perspective on vaccines. RISK ANALYSIS : AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR RISK ANALYSIS 2023. [PMID: 37748932 DOI: 10.1111/risa.14228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Vaccines can be seen as one of the greatest successes in modern medicine. Good examples are the vaccines against smallpox, polio, and measles. Unfortunately, vaccines can have side effects, but the risks are considered by the health authorities and experts to be small compared to their benefits. Nevertheless, there are many who are skeptical of vaccination, something which has been very clearly demonstrated in relation to the COVID-19 disease. Risk is the key concept when evaluating a vaccine, in relation to both its ability to protect against the disease and its side effects. However, risk is a challenging concept to measure, which makes communication about vaccines' performance and side effects difficult. The present article aims at providing new insights into vaccine risks-the understanding, perception, communication, and handling of them-by adopting what is here referred to as a contemporary risk science perspective. This perspective clarifies the relationships between the risk concept and terms like uncertainty, knowledge, and probability. The skepticism toward vaccines is multifaceted, and influenced by concerns that extend beyond the effectiveness and safety of the vaccines. However, by clarifying the relationships between key concepts of risk, particularly how uncertainty affects risk and its characterization, we can improve our understanding of this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Glette-Iversen
- Department of Safety, Economics and Planning, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Terje Aven
- Department of Safety, Economics and Planning, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Roger Flage
- Department of Safety, Economics and Planning, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway
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16
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Salas A, Rivero-Calle I, Martinón-Torres F. Chatting with ChatGPT to learn about safety of COVID-19 vaccines - A perspective. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2023; 19:2235200. [PMID: 37660470 PMCID: PMC10478732 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2235200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccine hesitancy is among the top 10 threats to global health, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In this exploration, we delve into ChatGPT capacity to generate opinions on vaccine hesitancy by interrogating this AI chatbot for the 50 most prevalent counterfait messages, false and true contraindications, and myths circulating on the internet regarding vaccine safety. Our results indicate that, while the present version of ChatGPT's default responses may be incomplete, they are generally satisfactory. Although ChatGPT cannot substitute an expert or the scientific evidence itself, this form of AI has the potential to guide users toward information that aligns well with scientific evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Salas
- Unidade de Xenética, Instituto de Ciencias Forenses, Facultade de Medicina, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, and GenPoB Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IDIS), Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago (SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Genetics, Vaccines and Infections Research Group (GENVIP), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBER-ES), Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene Rivero-Calle
- Genetics, Vaccines and Infections Research Group (GENVIP), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBER-ES), Madrid, Spain
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Vaccine Safety of Santiago de Compostela, Servizo Galego de Saude, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Translational Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Federico Martinón-Torres
- Genetics, Vaccines and Infections Research Group (GENVIP), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBER-ES), Madrid, Spain
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Vaccine Safety of Santiago de Compostela, Servizo Galego de Saude, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Translational Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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17
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Machado Júnior C, Mantovani DMN, de Sandes-Guimarães LV, Romeiro MDC, Furlaneto CJ, Bazanini R. Volatility of the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: sentiment analysis conducted in Brazil. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1192155. [PMID: 37483947 PMCID: PMC10360403 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1192155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Vaccine hesitancy is a phenomenon that can interfere with the expansion of vaccination coverage and is positioned as one of the top 10 global health threats. Previous studies have explored factors that affect vaccine hesitancy, how it behaves in different locations, and the profile of individuals in which it is most present. However, few studies have analyzed the volatility of vaccine hesitancy. Objective Identify the volatility of vaccine hesitancy manifested in social media. Methods Twitter's academic application programming interface was used to retrieve all tweets in Brazilian Portuguese mentioning the COVID-19 vaccine in 3 months (October 2020, June 2021, and October 2021), retrieving 1,048,576 tweets. A sentiment analysis was performed using the Orange software with the lexicon Multilingual sentiment in Portuguese. Results The feelings associated with vaccine hesitancy were volatile within 1 month, as well as throughout the vaccination process, being positioned as a resilient phenomenon. The themes that nurture vaccine hesitancy change dynamically and swiftly and are often associated with other topics that are also affecting society. Conclusion People that manifest the vaccine hesitancy present arguments that vary in a short period of time, what demand that government strategies to mitigate vaccine hesitancy effects be agile and counteract the expressed fear, by presenting scientific arguments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celso Machado Júnior
- Laboratory of Health Education, Institute of Innovation Multidisciplinary, Department of Administration, Municipal University of São Caetano do Sul, São Caetano do Sul, Brazil
- Laboratory of Biodiversity, Biogeography and Conservation, Department Health Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daielly Melina Nassif Mantovani
- Laboratory of Quantitative Methods and Informatics, Department of Administration, Institute of Analytics and Open Data, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luísa Veras de Sandes-Guimarães
- Laboratory of Health Education, Institute of Innovation Multidisciplinary, Department of Administration, Municipal University of São Caetano do Sul, São Caetano do Sul, Brazil
| | - Maria do Carmo Romeiro
- Laboratory of Health Education, Institute of Innovation Multidisciplinary, Department of Administration, Municipal University of São Caetano do Sul, São Caetano do Sul, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Jaciara Furlaneto
- Laboratory of Health Education, Institute of Innovation Multidisciplinary, Department of Administration, Municipal University of São Caetano do Sul, São Caetano do Sul, Brazil
- Laboratory of Biodiversity, Biogeography and Conservation, Department Health Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Roberto Bazanini
- Laboratory of Biodiversity, Biogeography and Conservation, Department Health Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
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18
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Binter J, Pešout O, Pieniak M, Martínez-Molina J, Noon EJ, Stefanczyk MM, Eder SJ. Predictors and motives for mask-wearing behavior and vaccination intention. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10293. [PMID: 37357247 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37072-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Containing a pandemic requires that individuals adhere to measures such as wearing face-masks and getting vaccinated. Therefore, identifying predictors and motives for both behaviors is of importance. Here, we study the decisions made by a cross-national sample in randomized hypothetical scenarios during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results show that mask-wearing was predicted by empathic tendencies, germ aversion, and higher age, whilst belief in misinformation and presentation of an interaction partner as a family member lowered the safety standards. The main motives associated with taking the mask off included: rationalization, facilitating interaction, and comfort. Vaccination intention was positively predicted by empathy, and negatively predicted by belief in misinformation and higher costs of the vaccine. We found no effect of immunization status of the surrounding social group. The most common motive for vaccination was protection of oneself and others, whereas undecided and anti-vaccine groups reported doubts about the effectiveness and fear of side effects. Together, we identify social and psychological predictors and motives of mask-wearing behavior and vaccination intention. The results highlight the importance of social context for mask-wearing, easy access to vaccines, empathy, and trust in publicly distributed information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Binter
- Faculty of Social and Economic Studies, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University, Moskevská 54, 400 96, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic.
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Ondra Pešout
- Department of Psychology, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Michał Pieniak
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | | | - Edward J Noon
- Institute of Childhood and Education, Leeds Trinity University, Leeds, UK
| | | | - Stephanie J Eder
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, Djerrassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria.
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19
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Huang Y, Zhang L, Fu J, Wu Y, Wang H, Xiao W, Xin Y, Dai Z, Si M, Chen X, Jia M, Leng Z, Cui D, Su X. COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Patients Recovered from COVID-19 Infection in Wuhan, China: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2023. [PMID: 37247615 DOI: 10.2196/42958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although patients recovered from COVID-19 infection already have immunity gained from natural infection, they are still at risk of reinfection due to the emergence of new variants of COVID-19 and the diminishing of naturally acquired immunity. COVID-19 vaccine is associated with efficacious protection against COVID-19 infection and could boost infection-acquired immunity, however, certain amounts of COVID-19 survivors have not been vaccinated due to vaccine hesitancy. OBJECTIVE The current study aimed to investigate COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and related factors among COVID-19 survivors. METHODS A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among patients recovered from COVID-19 infection in Wuhan, China between June 10 and July 25, 2021. Questionnaire included sociodemographic information, items on COVID-19 infection, the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy scale based on the 3Cs' model, trust in vaccine manufacturers and health facilities, and reasons for the decision to COVID-19 vaccination. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the influenced factors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. RESULTS Among 1422 participants, 538 (37.8%) were not vaccinated against COVID-19. COVID-19 recovered patients who perceived current unhealthy status had more hesitancy about COVID-19 vaccine than those who perceived themselves healthy (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.28-0.71). Compared to the asymptomatic patients, patients with mild symptoms were more likely to receive COVID-19 vaccine (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.02-2.82). Regarding the 3Cs' model, high complacency and low convenience were significant negative factors for COVID-19 vaccination (P<.05). Trust in vaccine manufacturers and health facilities was a significant positive factor for COVID-19 vaccination (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.09-1.19). "Self-needs" was the main reason for patients to receive the COVID-19 vaccine; "already have antibodies and do not need vaccination" was the main reason for patients not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. CONCLUSIONS Among the three major factors of vaccine hesitancy, complacency was proved the most notable one among COVID-19 recovered patients, educational campaigns can focus on raising the awareness of risk of infection and the benefits of vaccination to reduce complacency toward vaccination among them. For COVID-19 recovered patients, improving factors related to convenience such as transportation and environment of vaccination and proving door-to-door service were also necessary to facilitate their vaccination. In addition, addressing the concerns about vaccination of COVID-19 recovered patients could foster trust and promote their vaccination. CLINICALTRIAL
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiman Huang
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 31 BeiJiGe San Tiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing, CN
| | - Ling Zhang
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 31 BeiJiGe San Tiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing, CN
| | - Jiaqi Fu
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 31 BeiJiGe San Tiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing, CN
| | - Yijin Wu
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 31 BeiJiGe San Tiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing, CN
| | - Hao Wang
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 31 BeiJiGe San Tiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing, CN
| | - Weijun Xiao
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 31 BeiJiGe San Tiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing, CN
| | - You Xin
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 31 BeiJiGe San Tiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing, CN
| | - Zhenwei Dai
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 31 BeiJiGe San Tiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing, CN
| | - Mingyu Si
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 31 BeiJiGe San Tiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing, CN
| | - Xu Chen
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 31 BeiJiGe San Tiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing, CN
| | - Mengmeng Jia
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 31 BeiJiGe San Tiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing, CN
| | - Zhiwei Leng
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 31 BeiJiGe San Tiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing, CN
| | - Dan Cui
- National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, CN
| | - Xiaoyou Su
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 31 BeiJiGe San Tiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing, CN
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20
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Schultz É, Mancini J, Ward JK. What does the French public consider to be a conflict of interest for medical researchers? Soc Sci Med 2023; 327:115851. [PMID: 37172337 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Conflicts of interests have been at the core of public debate over health and medicine for decades. Social scientists have analysed the diversity of definitions of this label as well as the policies put in place to regulate the relationships between medical researchers and various actors such as private corporations. But little attention has been paid to the way the public define and use this label. In this article, we assess what the French public consider to be a conflict of interest for medical researchers. We draw on the data from a questionnaire-based survey conducted with a representative sample of the French population in December 2021 (n = 2022) where we asked respondents to decide whether different situations constituted a conflict of interest or not. These situations concerned medical researchers' relationships with economic actors but also with politicians and the media, with or without financial compensation for the researcher. We identified three main group profiles in terms of respondents' conception of what counts as a conflict of interest: i) considering that only money matters in the labelling of a given situation as a conflict of interest, ii) considering that any relationship with economic, media and political actors constitutes a conflict of interest (i.e., that medical research should be an ivory tower), and iii) indecision as to what constitutes a conflict of interest. These three groups differed in terms of social composition as well as respondents' relationships to science, politics, and the health care system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Émilien Schultz
- Sciences Po, Médialab, 1 Place Saint-Thomas d'Aquin, 75007, Paris, France; Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de La Santé & Traitement de L'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Equipe CANBIOS, Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Marseille, France.
| | - Julien Mancini
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de La Santé & Traitement de L'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Equipe CANBIOS, Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Marseille, France; BioSTIC, APHM, Timone, 13005, Marseille, France
| | - Jeremy K Ward
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Inserm, Cermes3, F-94800 Villejuif, France
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21
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Kreps SE, Kriner DL. Resistance to COVID-19 vaccination and the social contract: evidence from Italy. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:60. [PMID: 37087511 PMCID: PMC10122449 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00660-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Confronted with stalled vaccination efforts against COVID-19, many governments embraced mandates and other measures to incentivize vaccination that excluded the unvaccinated from aspects of social and economic life. Even still, many citizens remained unvaccinated. We advance a social contract framework for understanding who remains unvaccinated and why. We leverage both observational and individual-level survey evidence from Italy to study the relationship between vaccination status and social context, social trust, political partisanship, and adherence to core institutional structures such as the rule of law and collective commitments. We find that attitudes toward the rule of law and collective commitments outside the domain of vaccination are strongly associated with compliance with vaccine mandates and incentives. Partisanship also corresponds with vaccine behaviors, as supporters of parties whose leaders criticized aggressive policies to incentivize or mandate vaccination and emphasized individual liberty are least likely to comply. Our findings suggest appeals emphasizing individual benefits may be more effective than appeals emphasizing collective responsibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Kreps
- Department of Government, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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22
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The political component of COVID-19 vaccine choice: Results from a conjoint experiment. Public Health 2023; 217:33-40. [PMID: 36848795 PMCID: PMC9868381 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.01.014] [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: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Prior research highlights the role of efficacy, vaccine safety, and availability in vaccine hesitancy. Research is needed to better understand the political driving forces behind COVID-19 vaccine uptake. We examine the effects of the origin of a vaccine, and approval status within the EU on vaccine choice. We also test if these effects differ by party affiliation among Hungarians. STUDY DESIGN We use a conjoint experimental design to assess multiple causal relationships. Respondents choose between two hypothetical vaccine profiles randomly generated from 10 attributes. The data were gathered from an online panel in September 2022. We applied a quota for vaccination status and party preference. Three hundred twenty-four respondents evaluated 3888 randomly generated vaccine profiles. METHODS We analyse the data using an OLS estimator with standard errors clustered by respondents. To further nuance our results, we test for task, profile, and treatment heterogeneity effects. RESULTS By origin, respondents prefer German (MM 0.55; 95% CI 0.52-0.58) and Hungarian (0.55; 0.52-0.59) vaccines over US (0.49; 0.45-0.52) and Chinese vaccines (0.44; 0.41-0.47). By approval status, vaccines approved by the EU (0.55, 0.52-0.57) or pending authorization (0.5, 0.48-0.53) are preferred over unauthorised ones (0.45, 0.43-0.47). Both effects are conditional on party affiliation. Government voters especially prefer Hungarian vaccines (0.6; 0.55-0.65) over others. CONCLUSIONS The complexity of vaccination decisions calls for the usage of information shortcuts. Our findings demonstrate a strong political component that motivates vaccine choice. We demonstrate that politics and ideology have broken into fields of individual-level decisions such as health.
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23
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Gallegos M, de Castro Pecanha V, Caycho-Rodríguez T. Anti-vax: the history of a scientific problem. J Public Health (Oxf) 2023; 45:e140-e141. [PMID: 35428036 PMCID: PMC9383768 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdac048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Gallegos
- Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile.,Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina.,Programa de Pós-graduação em Psicología, Pontificia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil.,Instituto Rosario de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Educación, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Rosario, Argentina
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24
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Maneze D, Salamonson Y, Grollman M, Montayre J, Ramjan L. Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for healthcare workers: A discussion paper. Int J Nurs Stud 2023; 138:104389. [PMID: 36462385 PMCID: PMC9709452 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2022.104389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The devastating effects of COVID-19 sparked debates among professionals in the fields of health, law, and bioethics regarding policies on mandatory vaccination for healthcare workers. Suboptimal vaccine uptake among healthcare workers had been implicated in the increased risk of nosocomial spread of COVID infection and absenteeism among healthcare workers, impacting the quality of patient care. However, mandatory vaccine policies were also seen to encroach on the autonomy of healthcare workers. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To synthesise the arguments for and against mandatory vaccination for healthcare workers (HCWs) and its long-term impact on the healthcare workforce, through an analysis of texts and opinions of professionals from different fields of study. METHODS This is a systematic review of opinions published in peer-reviewed journals. After initial search in Cochrane and JBI systematic review databases to ensure no previous review had been done, five databases were searched (PsychInfo, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medline and Scopus). Inclusion criteria were: 1) focused on COVID-19; 2) healthcare workers specific; 3) specific to mandatory vaccination; 4) opinion piece with an identified author; and 5) in English. EXCLUSION 1) focus on other vaccine preventable diseases, not COVID-19 and 2) discussion on mandatory vaccination not-specific to healthcare workers. The Joanna Briggs Critical Appraisal tool for Text and Opinions was used to assess quality. Data were synthesised in the summary table. RESULTS The review included 28 opinion and viewpoint articles. Of these, 12 (43 %) adopted a pro-mandatory vaccination stance, 13 (46 %) were neutral or had presented arguments from both sides of the debate and only three (11 %) were against. The overall arguments among those who were pro-, neutral and anti-mandatory COVID-19 vaccination were underpinned by ethical, moral and legal principles of such a mandate on a vulnerable healthcare workforce. This review highlighted the polarised opinions concerning choices, human rights, professional responsibilities and personal risks (i.e. health risks, losing a job) with the introduction of vaccination mandate. However, the articles found in this review discussed mandatory vaccination of healthcare workers in the USA, Europe and Australia only. CONCLUSION The review underscores the need to balance the rights of the public to safe and quality care with the rights and moral obligations of healthcare workers during a public health emergency. This can be achieved when policies and mandates are guided by reliable scientific evidence which are flexible in considering legal and ethical dilemmas. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT To mandate or not to mandate COVID-19 vaccination for healthcare workers: A synthesis of published opinions in health, law, and bioethics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Della Maneze
- University of Wollongong, School of Nursing, Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Western Sydney University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Australia; South Western Sydney Local Health District, Multicultural Health Service, Australia; Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health (ACIOH), Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia.
| | - Yenna Salamonson
- University of Wollongong, School of Nursing, Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Western Sydney University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Australia; Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health (ACIOH), Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia.
| | - Maxwell Grollman
- University of California, Los Angeles, Institute for Society and Genetics, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Jed Montayre
- Western Sydney University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Australia; Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health (ACIOH), Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia.
| | - Lucie Ramjan
- Western Sydney University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Australia; Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health (ACIOH), Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia.
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25
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Promoting COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance through Community Engagement: An Ethnographic Study in Ghana. ADVANCES IN PUBLIC HEALTH 2023. [DOI: 10.1155/2023/3626862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction. To successfully manage COVID-19 and to meet the target of vaccinating 22.9 million people in Ghana, the government has adopted community engagement as one of the strategies. Yet, the Volta Region continues to record the lowest rate of vaccine acceptance in Ghana. This study explored how government institutions engaged communities on COVID-19 vaccine preparedness and acceptance in two administrative municipalities in Ghana. Methods. This qualitative study employed face-to-face in-depth interviews among thirty-six respondents comprising of government officials and community leaders and ten focus group discussions among 87 people made up of men and women most of whom were natives and some migrants in two administrative municipalities in Ghana. Data were collected from June to September 2021. Audio interviews were transcribed and uploaded to Nvivo 12 to support triangulation, coding, and thematic analysis. Ethical approval was obtained from the requisite authority, and all COVID-19 restrictions were observed. Results. Government institutions focused on informing communities of vaccines and vaccination with little input from the communities. The Ghana Health Service carried out the most extensive engagement because they had more decentralized institutions. Successful engagement activities resulted in vaccine acceptance among some community members. Challenges in community engagement included insufficient logistics and myths and misconceptions about vaccines, which accounted for some community members’ lack of trust in vaccines, resulting in their unwillingness to vaccinate. Government officials used innovative approaches such as comparing the safety of COVID-19 vaccines to vaccines designed for children under the age of five years to deal with misinformation. Conclusion. Government needs to provide more resources to institutions that are mandated to carry out engagement activities to enable them carry out their tasks. It is further recommended that government institutions should intensify community engagement in distant communities to support the country to meet the target.
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26
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Osborne J, Goncharova M, Germanovich M, Koshalko O, Kutalek R, Dückers M, Rodyna R. Locating vaccine uptake and public participation in Ukraine: An exploratory qualitative study on attitudes and barriers to early childhood vaccination. Glob Public Health 2023; 18:2267643. [PMID: 37820044 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2023.2267643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
A growing body of literature on vaccine hesitancy considers context and the intersecting factors affecting vaccine uptake. This study attempts to add focus to the conversation of vaccines in Ukraine by exploring how vaccines are perceived and how local stakeholders envision solutions to the problems surrounding vaccine uptake. Twenty-five in-depth interviews were carried out among parents of children under 6 years of age as well as health practitioners and other experts in Ukraine. Results were presented to stakeholders during a dialogue session to discuss the implications for policy recommendations. The Roma parents interviewed faced structural barriers to vaccine access, while other groups received vaccine information from others in their communities, such as family members or religious organisations. Mistrust of the health system and lack of access to reliable information preceded many doubts parents expressed surrounding vaccines. Stakeholders agreed that better, more targeted communication strategies are needed, as well as increased engagement with and training of medical practitioners. Qualitative methods allowed for a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the factors contributing to low vaccine uptake, of which vaccine hesitancy is only one part. The vulnerability-informed approach used may have broader applications for community engagement and responding to infectious diseases and crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Osborne
- Nivel - Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Goncharova
- Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | | | - Oksana Koshalko
- Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Ruth Kutalek
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michel Dückers
- Nivel - Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Diemen, The Netherlands
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27
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Kochkina E, Hossain T, Logan RL, Arana-Catania M, Procter R, Zubiaga A, Singh S, He Y, Liakata M. Evaluating the generalisability of neural rumour verification models. Inf Process Manag 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ipm.2022.103116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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28
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Nguyen T, Boey L, Van Riet C, Dielen S, Dodion H, Giles-Vernick T, Vandaele N, Larson HJ, Peeters Grietens K, Gryseels C, Heyerdahl LW. Embracing context: Lessons from designing a dialogue-based intervention to address vaccine hesitancy. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1069199. [PMID: 36891336 PMCID: PMC9986323 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1069199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Dialogue with people who are vaccine hesitant has been recommended as a method to increase vaccination uptake. The process of cultivating dialogue is shaped by the context in which it occurs, yet the development of interventions addressing vaccine hesitancy with dialogue often overlooks the role of context and favors relatively fixed solutions. This reflexive paper shares three key lessons related to context for dialogue-based interventions. These lessons emerged during a participatory research project to develop a pilot intervention to create open dialogue among healthcare workers in Belgium about COVID-19 vaccination concerns. Through a mixed methods study consisting of in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and surveys, we engaged healthcare workers in the design, testing, and evaluation of a digital platform featuring text-based and video-based (face-to-face) interactions. The lessons are: (1) what dialogue means, entails, and requires can vary for a population and context, (2) inherent tension exists between helping participants voice (and overcome) their concerns and exposing them to others' ideas that may exacerbate those concerns, and (3) interactional exchanges (e.g., with peers or experts) that matter to participants may shape the dialogue in terms of its content and form. We suggest that having a discovery-orientation-meaning to work not only inductively and iteratively but also reflexively-is a necessary part of the development of dialogue-based interventions. Our case also sheds light on the influences between: dialogue topic/content, socio-political landscape, population, intervention aim, dialogue form, ethics, researcher position, and types of interactional exchanges.
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Affiliation(s)
- ToTran Nguyen
- Socio-Ecological Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.,Department of Work and Organisation Studies, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lise Boey
- Access-To-Medicines Research Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Carla Van Riet
- Access-To-Medicines Research Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stef Dielen
- Socio-Ecological Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Hélène Dodion
- Socio-Ecological Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Tamara Giles-Vernick
- Anthropology and Ecology of Disease Emergence Unit, Department of Global Health, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Nico Vandaele
- Access-To-Medicines Research Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Heidi J Larson
- Vaccine Confidence Project, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Koen Peeters Grietens
- Socio-Ecological Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.,School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Charlotte Gryseels
- Socio-Ecological Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Leonardo W Heyerdahl
- Anthropology and Ecology of Disease Emergence Unit, Department of Global Health, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
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29
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Bor A, Jørgensen F, Petersen MB. Discriminatory attitudes against unvaccinated people during the pandemic. Nature 2023; 613:704-711. [PMID: 36482134 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05607-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, sizeable groups of unvaccinated people persist even in countries with high vaccine access1. As a consequence, vaccination became a controversial subject of debate and even protest2. Here we assess whether people express discriminatory attitudes in the form of negative affectivity, stereotypes and exclusionary attitudes in family and political settings across groups defined by COVID-19 vaccination status. We quantify discriminatory attitudes between vaccinated and unvaccinated citizens in 21 countries, covering a diverse set of cultures across the world. Across three conjoined experimental studies (n = 15,233), we demonstrate that vaccinated people express discriminatory attitudes towards unvaccinated individuals at a level as high as discriminatory attitudes that are commonly aimed at immigrant and minority populations3-5. By contrast, there is an absence of evidence that unvaccinated individuals display discriminatory attitudes towards vaccinated people, except for the presence of negative affectivity in Germany and the USA. We find evidence in support of discriminatory attitudes against unvaccinated individuals in all countries except for Hungary and Romania, and find that discriminatory attitudes are more strongly expressed in cultures with stronger cooperative norms. Previous research on the psychology of cooperation has shown that individuals react negatively against perceived 'free-riders'6,7, including in the domain of vaccinations8,9. Consistent with this, we find that contributors to the public good of epidemic control (that is, vaccinated individuals) react with discriminatory attitudes towards perceived free-riders (that is, unvaccinated individuals). National leaders and vaccinated members of the public appealed to moral obligations to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake10,11, but our findings suggest that discriminatory attitudes-including support for the removal of fundamental rights-simultaneously emerged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Bor
- Department of Political Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. .,Democracy Institute, Central European University, Budapest, Hungary.
| | | | - Michael Bang Petersen
- Department of Political Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. .,Centre for the Experimental-Philosophical Study of Discrimination, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
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30
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Odone A, Dallagiacoma G, Vigezzi GP. Vaccine Mandates in the COVID-19 Era: Changing Paradigm or Public Health Opportunity? Comment on "Convergence on Coercion: Functional and Political Pressures as Drivers of Global Childhood Vaccine Mandates". Int J Health Policy Manag 2022; 12:7616. [PMID: 37579446 PMCID: PMC10125141 DOI: 10.34172/ijhpm.2022.7616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The debate around vaccine mandates has flourished over the last decade, with several countries introducing or extending mandatory childhood vaccinations. In a recent study, Attwell and Hannah explore how functional and political pressures added to public health threats in selected countries, motivating governments to increase the coerciveness of their childhood vaccine regimes. In this commentary, we reflect on whether such model applies to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case and how the pandemic has re-shuffled the deck around vaccine mandates. We identify COVID-19 immunisation policies' distinctive aspects as we make the case of countries implementing mass immunisation programmes while relying on digital COVID-19 certificates as an indirect form of mandate to increase vaccine uptake. We conclude by acknowledging that different forms of mandatory vaccination might serve as a shortcut to protect population health in times of emergency, underlining, however, that the ultimate public health goal is to promote voluntary, informed, and responsible adherence to preventive behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Odone
- Department of Public Health Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Giacomo Pietro Vigezzi
- Department of Public Health Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Collegio Ca’ della Paglia, Fondazione Ghislieri, Pavia, Italy
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31
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Hotez PJ. COVID-19 vaccines: the imperfect instruments of vaccine diplomacy. J Travel Med 2022; 29:6591167. [PMID: 35608393 PMCID: PMC9384152 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taac063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Although true vaccine diplomacy in the form of sharing vaccine development technologies and scientific cooperation with low- and middle-income countries has not been a dominant theme in the COVID-19 pandemic, this aspect is now taking off and generating some exciting new possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Hotez
- Texas Children's Center for Vaccine Development, Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA.,Hagler Institute of Advanced Study and Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.,James A Baker III Institute of Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
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32
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Lalot F, Abrams D, Heering MS, Babaian J, Ozkececi H, Peitz L, Davies Hayon K, Broadwood J. Distrustful Complacency and the COVID-19 Vaccine: How Concern and Political Trust Interact to Affect Vaccine Hesitancy. POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 44:POPS12871. [PMID: 36718283 PMCID: PMC9878109 DOI: 10.1111/pops.12871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
We test the hypothesis that COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is attributable to distrustful complacency-an interactive combination of low concern and low trust. Across two studies, 9,695 respondents from different parts of Britain reported their level of concern about COVID-19, trust in the UK government, and intention to accept or refuse the vaccine. Multilevel regression analysis, controlling for geographic area and relevant demographics, confirmed the predicted interactive effect of concern and trust. Across studies, respondents with both low trust and low concern were 10%-22% more vaccine hesitant than respondents with either high trust or high concern, and 26%-29% more hesitant than respondents with both high trust and high concern. Results hold equally among White, Black, and Muslim respondents, consistent with the view that regardless of mean-level differences, a common process underlies vaccine hesitancy, underlining the importance of tackling distrustful complacency both generally and specifically among unvaccinated individuals and populations.
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33
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Cogan N, Gallant AJ, Nicholls LAB, Rasmussen S, Young D, Williams L. Improving older adults' vaccination uptake: Are existing measures of vaccine hesitancy valid and reliable for older people? J Health Psychol 2022; 27:3136-3147. [PMID: 35410504 PMCID: PMC9720707 DOI: 10.1177/13591053221089104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
We sought to establish whether two recently developed measures, the 5C scale and the Vaccination Attitudes Examination (VAX) were reliable and valid for use with older adults. A total of 372 UK-dwelling participants (65-92 years, M = 70.5 years, SD = 4.6) completed a cross-sectional survey measuring health and socio-demographic characteristics in relation to vaccine uptake for influenza, pneumococcal and shingles. The 5C and VAX scales were administered to test their reliability, validity and dimensionality. Both scales showed good internal reliability and convergent, discriminant and concurrent validity. Their factor structures were also confirmed, supporting their use with older adult populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Cogan
- University of Strathclyde, UK
- Nicola Cogan, School of Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde, 40 George Street, Glasgow G1 1QE, UK.
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Developing a Roadmap for Mass Vaccination of COVID-19 in Iran: A Qualitative Study. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2022; 17:e295. [PMID: 36380492 PMCID: PMC9837420 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2022.253] [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] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nowadays, the Covid-19 pandemic is 1 of the most important challenges worldwide, especially in terms of health. The most important strategy to prevent and control the Covid-19 pandemic is mass vaccination. This study aimed at developing a roadmap for the mass vaccination of COVID-19 in Iran. METHODS The current study was conducted using a qualitative approach with a content analysis method. In the first step, the review of literature and documents was carried out by a search in scientific databases. In the next step, the data were amassed via in-depth and semi-structured interviews with experts who were selected purposefully, including policymakers, health care workers, and managers. After this, 3 multidisciplinary expert panels for roadmap development were held. RESULTS Based on the literature review, interviews, and 3 stages of an expert panel, the final roadmap was developed with 5 dimensions. These included outcomes, planning and preparation, strategies, and preparation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. CONCLUSIONS This roadmap was developed to improve mass vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to our findings, it is strongly recommended that the vaccination roadmap with all the above-mentioned features and comprehensive structure should be applied to mitigate the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Nomura S, Eguchi A, Yoneoka D, Murakami M, Ghaznavi C, Gilmour S, Kaneko S, Kawashima T, Kunishima H, Naito W, Sakamoto H, Maruyama-Sakurai K, Takahashi A, Takayama Y, Tanoue Y, Yamamoto Y, Yasutaka T, Miyata H. Characterising reasons for reversals of COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among Japanese people: One-year follow-up survey. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. WESTERN PACIFIC 2022; 27:100541. [PMID: 35892010 PMCID: PMC9302916 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2022.100541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vaccine hesitancy is a global public health threat. We present unique data that characterises those who experienced reversals of COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy in Japan. METHODS We administered a questionnaire on vaccination intention among 30053 Japanese adults aged 20 years or older before the COVID-19 vaccination was available to the general population (first survey) and conducted a follow-up survey on vaccination status one year later in February 2022 (second survey). Those who responded in the first survey that they did not intend to be vaccinated or were unsure and then responded in the second survey that they were vaccinated or intend to be vaccinated were asked about the reasons for their change of heart. Based on previous literature and expert opinion, 31 reasons for changing vaccination intention were compiled and respondents were asked to choose which among them applied to themselves, with multiple responses possible. Based on the results of those responses, each individual was then clustered using the Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP) dimensionality reduction technique and Ordering Points To Identify the Clustering Structure (OPTICS) algorithm. We then identified unique characteristics among each of the sub-populations (clusters). FINDINGS In the second survey we received 19195 responses (response rate 63.9%), of which 8077 responded 'no' or 'not sure' in the first survey regarding their intention to be vaccinated. Of these, 5861 responded having received or intending to receive the vaccine (72.6%). We detected six and five sub-populations (clusters) among the 'no' group and 'not sure' group, respectively. The clusters were characterized by perceived benefits of vaccination, including the COVID-19 vaccine, awareness of the COVID-19 vaccination status of those close to them, recognition of the social significance of COVID-19 vaccination for the spread of infection, and dispelled concerns about short-term adverse reactions and the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine. Work and personal relationship reasons were also found to be a unique overarching reason for vaccination changes of heart only among those who did not intend to vaccinate. INTERPRETATION Those who changed their intention to accept COVID-19 vaccination as well as their unique characteristics as detailed in this study will be important entry points when discussing how to promote vaccination to those who are hesitant to vaccinate in the future. FUNDING The present work was supported in part by a grant from the Kanagawa Prefectural Government of Japan and by AIST government subsidies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhei Nomura
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akifumi Eguchi
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Daisuke Yoneoka
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, Tokyo, Japan
- Infectious Disease Surveillance Center at the National Institute of Infectious Disease, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Michio Murakami
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Cyrus Ghaznavi
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
- Medical Education Program, Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Saint Louis, United States
| | - Stuart Gilmour
- Graduate School of Public Health, St. Luke's International University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kaneko
- Department of Ecoepidemiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Takayuki Kawashima
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Mathematical and Computing Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kunishima
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Wataru Naito
- Research Institute of Science for Safety and Sustainability, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Haruka Sakamoto
- Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keiko Maruyama-Sakurai
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Arata Takahashi
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Healthcare Quality Assessment, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Takayama
- Department of International Health and Medical Anthropology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, Uruma, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Yuta Tanoue
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Institute for Business and Finance, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Tetsuo Yasutaka
- Research Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Miyata
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
- Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Healthcare Quality Assessment, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Bucyibaruta G, Blangiardo M, Konstantinoudis G. Community-level characteristics of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in England: A nationwide cross-sectional study. Eur J Epidemiol 2022; 37:1071-1081. [PMID: 36121531 PMCID: PMC9483427 DOI: 10.1007/s10654-022-00905-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
One year after the start of the COVID-19 vaccination programme in England, more than 43 million people older than 12 years old had received at least a first dose. Nevertheless, geographical differences persist, and vaccine hesitancy is still a major public health concern; understanding its determinants is crucial to managing the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing for future ones. In this cross-sectional population-based study we used cumulative data on the first dose of vaccine received by 01-01-2022 at Middle Super Output Area level in England. We used Bayesian hierarchical spatial models and investigated if the geographical differences in vaccination uptake can be explained by a range of community-level characteristics covering socio-demographics, political view, COVID-19 health risk awareness and targeting of high risk groups and accessibility. Deprivation is the covariate most strongly associated with vaccine uptake (Odds Ratio 0.55, 95%CI 0.54-0.57; most versus least deprived areas). The most ethnically diverse areas have a 38% (95%CI 36-40%) lower odds of vaccine uptake compared with those least diverse. Areas with the highest proportion of population between 12 and 24 years old had lower odds of vaccination (0.87, 95%CI 0.85-0.89). Finally increase in vaccine accessibility is associated with COVID-19 vaccine coverage (OR 1.07, 95%CI 1.03-1.12). Our results suggest that one year after the start of the vaccination programme, there is still evidence of inequalities in uptake, affecting particularly minorities and marginalised groups. Strategies including prioritising active outreach across communities and removing practical barriers and factors that make vaccines less accessible are needed to level up the differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georges Bucyibaruta
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Marta Blangiardo
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Garyfallos Konstantinoudis
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Thorakkattil SA, Abdulsalim S, Karattuthodi MS, Unnikrishnan MK, Rashid M, Thunga G. COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: The Perils of Peddling Science by Social Media and the Lay Press. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10071059. [PMID: 35891223 PMCID: PMC9316152 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10071059] [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: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Vaccines are the best tools to end the pandemic, and their public acceptance is crucial in achieving herd immunity. Despite global efforts to increase access to vaccination, the World Health Organization explicitly lists vaccination hesitancy (VH) as a significant threat. Despite robust safety reports from regulatory authorities and public health advisories, a substantial proportion of the community remains obsessed with the hazards of vaccination. This calls for identifying and eliminating possible causative elements, among which this study investigates the inappropriate dissemination of medical literature concerning COVID-19 and adverse events following immunization (AEFI), its influence on promoting VH, and proposals for overcoming this problem in the future. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases, using the keywords “adverse events following immunization (AEFI)”, “COVID-19”, “vaccines” and “hesitancy” and related medical and subjective headings (MeSH) up to 31 March 2022, and extracted studies relevant to the COVID-19 AEFI and associated VH. Finally, 47 articles were chosen to generate a narrative synthesis. Results: The databases depicted a steep rise in publications on COVID-19 AEFI and COVID-19 VH from January 2021 onwards. The articles depicted multiple events of mild AEFIs without fatal events in recipients. While documenting AEFIs is praiseworthy, publishing such reports without prior expert surveillance can exaggerate public apprehension and inappropriately fuel VH. VH is a deep-rooted phenomenon, but it is difficult to zero in on the exact reason for it. Spreading rumors/misinformation on COVID-19 vaccines might be an important provocation for VH, which includes indiscriminately reporting AEFI on a massive scale. While a number of reported AEFIs fall within the acceptable limits in the course of extensive COVID-19 vaccinations, it is important to critically evaluate and moderate the reporting and dissemination of AEFI in order to allay panic. Conclusions: Vaccination programs are necessary to end any pandemic, and VH may be attributed to multiple reasons. VH may be assuaged by initiating educational programs on the importance of vaccination, raising public awareness and monitoring the inappropriate dissemination of misleading information. Government-initiated strategies can potentially restrict random AEFI reports from lay epidemiologists and healthcare practitioners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabeer Ali Thorakkattil
- Pharmacy Services Department, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH), Dhahran 34465, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Suhaj Abdulsalim
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Unaizah College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraydah 52571, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +966-550-892-550
| | - Mohammed Salim Karattuthodi
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal 576104, India; (M.S.K.); (M.R.); (G.T.)
| | | | - Muhammed Rashid
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal 576104, India; (M.S.K.); (M.R.); (G.T.)
| | - Girish Thunga
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal 576104, India; (M.S.K.); (M.R.); (G.T.)
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Acceptance of and Preference for COVID-19 Vaccination in India, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain: An International Cross-Sectional Study. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10060832. [PMID: 35746440 PMCID: PMC9230582 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10060832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: India and Europe have large populations, a large number of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, and different healthcare systems. This study aims to investigate the differences between the hesitancy toward and preference for COVID-19 vaccines in India and four European countries, namely, the United Kingdom (UK), Germany, Italy, and Spain. Methodology: We conducted a cross-national survey for distribution in India, the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain. More specifically, a discrete choice experiment (DCE) was conducted to evaluate vaccine preferences, and Likert scales were used to probe the underlying factors that contribute to vaccination acceptance. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to directly compare India and European countries. Results: A total of 2565 respondents (835 from India and 1730 from the specified countries in Europe) participated in the survey. After PSM, more than 82.5% of respondents from India positively accepted the COVID-19 vaccination, whereas 79.9% of respondents from Europe had a positive attitude; however, the proportion in Europe changed to 81.6% in cases in which the vaccine was recommended by friends, family, or employers. The DCE found that the COVID-19 vaccine efficacy was the most important factor for respondents in India and the four European nations (41.8% in India and 47.77% in Europe), followed by the vaccine cost (28.06% in India and 25.88% in Europe). Conclusion: Although most respondents in both regions showed high acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines, either due to general acceptance or acceptance as a result of social cues, the vaccination coverage rate shows apparent distinctions. Due to the differences in COVID-19 situations, public health systems, cultural backgrounds, and vaccine availability, the strategies for COVID-19 vaccine promotion should be nation-dependent.
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Goodwin R, Nguyen Luu LA, Wiwattanapantuwong J, Kovács M, Suttiwan P, Levin Y. Two-Tailed Dogs, Social Unrest and COVID-19 Vaccination: Politics, Hesitancy and Vaccine Choice in Hungary and Thailand. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10050789. [PMID: 35632545 PMCID: PMC9147869 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10050789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: A long tradition of research has shown an association between political orientation and vaccine uptake. However, we know little about political preferences and the choice of specific vaccines. Methods: We conducted two national surveys, in Hungary (Study 1, online, n = 1130) and Thailand (Study 2, on the street survey: n = 1052), testing associations between political allegiance, trust in government, vaccine willingness, and vaccine choice. Results: In Hungary, those supporting the government or on the political right were more willing to be vaccinated, with this association strongest for government approved vaccines. These respondents were also more likely to accept Chinese and Russian vaccines and reject the Moderna vaccine. In Thailand, vaccinated respondents reported greater trust in the government, with preference for AstraZeneca associated with support for pro-government political parties and preference for Pfizer with anti-government attitudes. Conclusions: Vaccine campaigns need to recognise the role of political loyalties not only in vaccine willingness, but in vaccine choice, especially given the mixing of vaccines across doses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Goodwin
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK;
| | - Lan Anh Nguyen Luu
- Institute of Intercultural Psychology and Education, Eötvös Loránd University, 1075 Budapest, Hungary; (L.A.N.L.); (M.K.)
| | | | - Mónika Kovács
- Institute of Intercultural Psychology and Education, Eötvös Loránd University, 1075 Budapest, Hungary; (L.A.N.L.); (M.K.)
| | - Panrapee Suttiwan
- Faculty of Psychology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
| | - Yafit Levin
- Department of Social Work and Education, Ariel University, Ariel 4076414, Israel;
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Buonsenso D, Valentini P, Macchi M, Folino F, Pensabene C, Patria MF, Agostoni C, Castaldi S, Lecce M, Giannì ML, Marchisio P, Milani GP. Caregivers' Attitudes Toward COVID-19 Vaccination in Children and Adolescents With a History of SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Front Pediatr 2022; 10:867968. [PMID: 35463893 PMCID: PMC9021633 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.867968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Limited data are available on the attitudes of caregivers toward COVID-19 vaccination in children and adolescents with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection or Long Covid symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate the vaccine hesitancy among caregivers of children and adolescents with a documented history of SARS-CoV-2 infection and to explore the possible associations between COVID-19 manifestations and the acceptance of the vaccine. Methods Caregivers of children or adolescents with a microbiologically confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection evaluated in two University Hospitals were interviewed. Results We were able to contact 132 caregivers and 9 declined to participate. 68 caregivers (56%) were in favor of COVID-19 vaccination for their child. In the multiple logistic regression, child's age (OR 1.17, 95%CI 1.06-1.28) and hospitalization due to COVID-19 (OR 3.25, 95%CI 1.06-9.95) were positively associated with being in favor of COVID-19 vaccination. On the contrary, the occurrence of child's Long Covid was associated with a higher likelihood of being against the vaccination (OR 0.28, 95%CI 0.10-0.80). Conclusions This preliminary study shows that only about half of the interviewed parents of children and adolescents with a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection are willing to vaccinate them to prevent a repeated COVID-19 infection. These findings might help healthcare workers to provide tailored information to caregivers of children with a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danilo Buonsenso
- Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli”, Rome, Italy
- Center for Global Health Research and Studies, Dipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Piero Valentini
- Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli”, Rome, Italy
- Center for Global Health Research and Studies, Dipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Marina Macchi
- Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Folino
- Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Carola Pensabene
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Pediatric Unit, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Carlo Agostoni
- Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Pediatric Unit, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvana Castaldi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Postgraduate School of Public Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Maurizio Lecce
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Postgraduate School of Public Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Lorella Giannì
- Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Marchisio
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Pediatric Unit, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Gregorio P. Milani
- Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Pediatric Unit, Milan, Italy
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COVID-19 Vaccination and Rates of Infections, Hospitalizations, ICU Admissions, and Deaths in the European Economic Area during Autumn 2021 Wave of SARS-CoV-2. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10030437. [PMID: 35335069 PMCID: PMC8955952 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10030437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 vaccination campaigns were met with a varying level of vaccine hesitancy in Europe. We analyzed the potential relationships between COVID-19 vaccine coverage in different countries of the European Economic Area and rates of infection, hospitalizations, admissions to intensive care units (ICU), and deaths during the autumn 2021 SARS-CoV-2 wave (September−December). Significant negative correlations between infection rates and the percentage of fully vaccinated individuals were found during September, October, and November, but not December. The loss of this protective effect in December is likely due to the emergence of the omicron (B.1.1.529) variant, better adapted to evade vaccine-induced humoral immunity. For every considered month, the negative linear associations between the vaccine coverage and mean number of hospitalizations (r= −0.61 to −0.88), the mean number of ICU admissions (r= −0.62 to −0.81), and death rate (r= −0.64 to −0.84) were observed. The results highlight that vaccines provided significant benefits during autumn 2021. The vaccination of unvaccinated individuals should remain the primary strategy to decrease the hospital overloads, severe consequences of COVID-19, and deaths.
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Rachaniotis NP, Dasaklis TK, Fotopoulos F, Chouzouris M, Sypsa V, Lyberaki A, Tinios P. Is Mandatory Vaccination in Population over 60 Adequate to Control the COVID-19 Pandemic in E.U.? Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10020329. [PMID: 35214788 PMCID: PMC8880699 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10020329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccine hesitancy, which potentially leads to the refusal or delayed acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines, is considered a key driver of the increasing death toll from the pandemic in the EU. The European Commission and several member states’ governments are either planning or have already directly or indirectly announced mandatory vaccination for individuals aged over 60, the group which has repeatedly proved to be the most vulnerable. In this paper, an assessment of this strategy’s benefits is attempted by deriving a metric for the potential gains of vaccination mandates that can be used to compare EU member states. This is completed by examining the reduction in Standard Expected Years of Life Lost (SEYLL) per person for the EU population over 60 as a function of the member states’ vaccination percentage in these ages. The publicly available data and results of the second iteration of the SHARE COVID-19 survey on the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines, conducted during the summer of 2021, are used as inputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos P. Rachaniotis
- Department of Industrial Management and Technology, University of Piraeus, 18534 Piraeus, Greece
- Correspondence:
| | - Thomas K. Dasaklis
- School of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University, 26335 Patras, Greece;
| | | | - Michalis Chouzouris
- Department of Statistics and Insurance Science, University of Piraeus, 18534 Piraeus, Greece; (M.C.); (P.T.)
| | - Vana Sypsa
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Antigone Lyberaki
- Department of Economic & Regional Development, Panteion University, 17671 Athens, Greece;
| | - Platon Tinios
- Department of Statistics and Insurance Science, University of Piraeus, 18534 Piraeus, Greece; (M.C.); (P.T.)
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