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Walldorf JA, Chiu De Vazquez C, Barbosa De Lima AC, Struminger B, Groom A, Burke L, Mayigane LN, Chang Blanc D, Vedrasco L. Sharing lessons learned from COVID-19 vaccine introductions: a global community forum for countries. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1376113. [PMID: 38807989 PMCID: PMC11130350 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1376113] [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: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
To optimize the efficient introduction and deployment of COVID-19 vaccines across the globe during the COVID-19 pandemic, in April 2021 WHO launched a new process and tools for countries to rapidly review the early phase of countries' COVID-19 vaccine introduction. This methodology is called the COVID-19 vaccination intra-action review, also known as mini COVID-19 vaccine post-introduction evaluation (mini-cPIE). As of November 2022, 46 mini-cPIEs had been conducted. In collaboration with Project ECHO, WHO convened and facilitated real-time experience sharing and peer-learning among countries following their mini-cPIEs through a virtual global real-time learning forum. This five-session clinic series was attended by 736 participants from 129 countries. Based on post-session feedback surveys, when asked about the utility of the sessions, half of the participants said that sessions led them to review national guidelines and protocols or make other changes to their health systems. The post-series survey sent following the end of the clinic series showed that at least eight countries subsequently conducted a mini-cPIE after participating in the clinics, and participants from at least nine countries indicated the experience shared by peer countries on the clinic largely benefited their COVID-19 vaccine introduction and deployment. In this article, we highlight the benefits and importance of creating a global experience-sharing forum for countries to connect and share pertinent learnings in real-time during an international public health emergency. Moving forward, it is critical to foster a culture of individual and collective learning within and between countries during public health emergencies, with WHO playing an important convening role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Anne Walldorf
- Department of Immunization, Vaccines, and Biologicals, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Cindy Chiu De Vazquez
- Department of Health Security Preparedness, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Bruce Struminger
- ECHO Institute, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Amy Groom
- ECHO Institute, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Lauren Burke
- ECHO Institute, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Landry Ndriko Mayigane
- Department of Health Security Preparedness, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Diana Chang Blanc
- Department of Immunization, Vaccines, and Biologicals, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Liviu Vedrasco
- Department of Health Security Preparedness, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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2
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Sanz JC, Pérez-Abeledo M. Measles in Spain at the elimination phase: The enemy knocking on the door. ENFERMEDADES INFECCIOSAS Y MICROBIOLOGIA CLINICA (ENGLISH ED.) 2022; 40:529-531. [PMID: 36464470 DOI: 10.1016/j.eimce.2021.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos Sanz
- Laboratorio Regional de Salud Pública de la Comunidad de Madrid, Dirección General de Salud Pública, Consejería de Sanidad, Comunidad de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain.
| | - Marta Pérez-Abeledo
- Laboratorio Regional de Salud Pública de la Comunidad de Madrid, Dirección General de Salud Pública, Consejería de Sanidad, Comunidad de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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He Q, Fan S, Xue Z, Yuan J, Wang Y, Yang Z, Zhou Z, Zhang Z. Waning of maternal antibody against measles virus in Shufu, China. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2022; 18:2045854. [PMID: 36399713 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2045854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As measles vaccination coverage has increased, measles infection has shifted to the population of infants. We conducted a follow-up seroepidemiological study among mothers and their infants to evaluate measles seroprevalence and the persistence of maternal measles antibody in Shufu, Kashgar from 2018 to 2020. METHODS Maternal venous blood and cord blood was obtained among mothers and their infants at 0, 3, 5, 8, 9, and 12 months of age. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used for quantitative measurement of measles antibodies. We analyzed the correlation between maternal and neonatal measles antibodies, and antibodies persistence after infants were born. RESULTS The overall neonatal maternal ratio was 2.38 (95%CI: 2.05-2.71). The measles antibodies for mothers and newborns were 438.93 IU/mL (95%CI: 409.47-470.51 IU/mL) and 440.10 IU/mL (95%CI: 410.82-471.48 IU/mL), respectively. Neonatal measles antibodies were dropping after birth and then beginning to increase starting at 8 months of age. CONCLUSIONS Infant measles antibody levels progressively declined after birth regardless of maternal measles antibody levels. Efforts should be carried out to eliminate measles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing He
- Institute of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University & Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shujun Fan
- Institute of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University & Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhenxiang Xue
- Emergency Management department, Shufu Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Kashgar, China
| | - Jun Yuan
- Institute of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University & Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuzhong Wang
- Emergency Management department, Shufu Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Kashgar, China
| | - Zhicong Yang
- Institute of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University & Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ziyan Zhou
- Institute of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University & Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhoubin Zhang
- Institute of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University & Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
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Müller J, Tellier A, Kurschilgen M. Echo chambers and opinion dynamics explain the occurrence of vaccination hesitancy. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:220367. [PMID: 36312563 PMCID: PMC9554521 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220367] [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] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Vaccination hesitancy is a major obstacle to achieving and maintaining herd immunity. Therefore, public health authorities need to understand the dynamics of an anti-vaccine opinion in the population. We introduce a spatially structured mathematical model of opinion dynamics with reinforcement. The model allows as an emergent property for the occurrence of echo chambers, i.e. opinion bubbles in which information that is incompatible with one's entrenched worldview, is probably disregarded. We scale the model both to a deterministic limit and to a weak-effects limit, and obtain bifurcations, phase transitions and the invariant measure. Fitting the model to measles and meningococci vaccination coverage across Germany, reveals that the emergence of echo chambers dynamics explains the occurrence and persistence of the anti-vaccination opinion in allowing anti-vaxxers to isolate and to ignore pro-vaccination facts. We predict and compare the effectiveness of different policies aimed at influencing opinion dynamics in order to increase vaccination uptake. According to our model, measures aiming at reducing the salience of partisan anti-vaccine information sources would have the largest effect on enhancing vaccination uptake. By contrast, measures aiming at reducing the reinforcement of vaccination deniers are predicted to have the smallest impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Müller
- Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Technische Universität München, Munchen, Germany
- Institute for Computational Biology, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Aurélien Tellier
- Section of Population Genetics, Technische Universität München, Munchen, Germany
| | - Michael Kurschilgen
- Department of Economics, UniDistance Suisse / FernUni Schweiz, Brig, Switzerland
- Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods, Bonn, Germany
- Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford, CA, USA
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5
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Lastrucci V, Puglia M, Pacifici M, Buscemi P, Sica M, Alderotti G, Belli G, Berti E, Rusconi F, Voller F. Delayed Start of Routine Vaccination in Preterm and Small-for-Gestational-Age Infants: An Area-Based Cohort Study from the Tuscany Region, Italy. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10091414. [PMID: 36146491 PMCID: PMC9503094 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10091414] [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: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Preterm and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants are more susceptible to vaccine-preventable diseases. To evaluate routine vaccination timeliness in these high-risk groups, a full birth cohort of infants (n = 41,502) born in 2017 and 2018 in Tuscany was retrospectively followed up until 24 months of age. Infants were classified by gestational age (GA) and SGA status. The vaccinations included: hexavalent (HEXA), measles-mumps-rubella, varicella, pneumococcal conjugate (PCV), and meningococcal C conjugate. Time-to-event (Kaplan–Meier) analyses were conducted to evaluate the timing of vaccination according to GA; logistic models were performed to evaluate the associations between GA and SGA with vaccination timeliness. Time-to-event analyses show that the rate of delayed vaccine receipt increased with decreasing GA for all the vaccinations, with a less marked gradient in later vaccine doses. Compared to full-term infants, very preterm infants significantly showed an increased odds ratio (OR) for delayed vaccination in all the vaccinations, while moderate/late preterm infants only showed an increased OR for HEXA-1, HEXA-3, PCV-1, and PCV-3. SGA infants had a significantly higher risk of delayed vaccination only for HEXA-1 and PCV-1 compared to non-SGA infants. In conclusion, vaccinations among preterm and SGA infants showed considerable delay. Tailored public health programs to improve vaccination timeliness are required in these high-risk groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vieri Lastrucci
- Epidemiology Unit, Meyer Children's Hospital, Viale Gaetano Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Monia Puglia
- Observatory of Epidemiology, Regional Health Agency of Tuscany, Via Pietro Dazzi, 1, 50141 Florence, Italy
| | - Martina Pacifici
- Observatory of Epidemiology, Regional Health Agency of Tuscany, Via Pietro Dazzi, 1, 50141 Florence, Italy
| | - Primo Buscemi
- Medical Specialization School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, Viale GB Morgagni 48, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Michela Sica
- Epidemiology Unit, Meyer Children's Hospital, Viale Gaetano Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Giorgia Alderotti
- Epidemiology Unit, Meyer Children's Hospital, Viale Gaetano Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Gilda Belli
- Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Toscana Centro, Piazza Santa Maria Nuova, 1, 50122 Firenze, Italy
| | - Elettra Berti
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Meyer Children's Hospital, Viale Gaetano Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Franca Rusconi
- Department of Mother and Child Health, Azienda USL Toscana Nord Ovest, Via Cocchi 7/9, 56121 Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio Voller
- Observatory of Epidemiology, Regional Health Agency of Tuscany, Via Pietro Dazzi, 1, 50141 Florence, Italy
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6
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Ge J, Wang W. Vaccination games in prevention of infectious diseases with application to COVID-19. CHAOS, SOLITONS, AND FRACTALS 2022; 161:112294. [PMID: 35702367 PMCID: PMC9186443 DOI: 10.1016/j.chaos.2022.112294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Vaccination coverage is crucial for disease prevention and control. An appropriate combination of compulsory vaccination with voluntary vaccination is necessary to achieve the goal of herd immunity for some epidemic diseases such as measles and COVID-19. A mathematical model is proposed that incorporates both compulsory vaccination and voluntary vaccination, where a decision of voluntary vaccination is made on the basis of game evaluation by comparing the expected returns of different strategies. It is shown that the threshold of disease invasion is determined by the reproduction numbers, and an over-response in magnitude or information interval in the dynamic games could induce periodic oscillations from the Hopf bifurcation. The theoretical results are applied to COVID-19 to find out the strategies for protective immune barrier against virus variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwen Ge
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Wendi Wang
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
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Pourkarim M, Nayebzadeh S, Alavian SM, Hataminasab SH. Digital Marketing: A Unique Multidisciplinary Approach towards the Elimination of Viral Hepatitis. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11060626. [PMID: 35745480 PMCID: PMC9228079 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11060626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
New technologies are supported by the global implementation of the internet. These improvements have deeply affected various disciplines of sciences and consequently changed services such as daily business, particularly health sectors. Innovative digital marketing strategies utilize the channels of social media and retrieved user data to analyze and improve relevant services. These multidisciplinary innovations can assist specialists, physicians and researchers in diagnostic, prophylaxis and treatment issues in the health sector. Accordingly, compared to recent decades, health decision makers are more accurate and trustful in defining new strategies. Interestingly, using social media and mobile health apps in current pandemics of SARS-CoV-2 could be an important instance of the key role of these platforms at the local and global level of health policies. These digital technologies provide platforms to connect public health sectors and health politicians for communicating and spreading relevant information. Adding influencers and campaigns to this toolbox strengthens the implementation of public health programs. In 2016, the WHO adopted a global program to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030. Recent constructive measures that have been used in the battle against COVID-19 could be adopted for the elimination of viral hepatitis program. The presented evidence in our narrative review demonstrates that the application of digital marketing tools to create campaigns on social media, armed with professional influencers, can efficiently consolidate this program. The application of different strategies in using these popular tools will raise the public awareness about viral hepatitis. Subsequently, the availability of an effective vaccine for HBV and antiviral medication for HCV can motivate the audience to take steps towards prophylaxis and screening methods against these infectious illnesses. The encouragement of health policy makers to apply digital communication technologies and comprehensive roadmaps to implement this global program will certainly decrease the burden of viral hepatitis worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadreza Pourkarim
- Department of Management, Yazd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yazd P.O. Box 89195/155, Iran; (M.P.); (S.H.H.)
| | - Shahnaz Nayebzadeh
- Department of Management, Yazd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yazd P.O. Box 89195/155, Iran; (M.P.); (S.H.H.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +98-351-8211391; Fax: +98-351-8214810
| | | | - Seyyed Hassan Hataminasab
- Department of Management, Yazd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yazd P.O. Box 89195/155, Iran; (M.P.); (S.H.H.)
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8
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Tokiya M, Hara M, Matsumoto A, Ashenagar MS, Nakano T, Hirota Y. Association of Vaccine Confidence and Hesitancy in Three Phases of COVID-19 Vaccine Approval and Introduction in Japan. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10030423. [PMID: 35335055 PMCID: PMC8954745 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10030423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding vaccine hesitancy, considering the target region and phase, is an urgent issue to quell the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to monitor COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the Japanese population during the three phases of vaccine approval and introduction, and evaluate the association of vaccine hesitancy with vaccine confidence and literacy. We conducted web-based cross-sectional surveys during the three phases of COVID-19 vaccine introduction: January 2021, before approval; June, start of vaccination of the elderly; and September, when about 70% of the target population was vaccinated with at least one dose. There were 7210 participants, aged 20−80 years. We evaluated the association of vaccine hesitancy with vaccine confidence and literacy in the three phases using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The proportion of hesitancy in January, June, and September was 17.5%, 65.3%, and 19.4%, respectively. In any phase, lower vaccine confidence and literacy showed a higher adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of vaccine hesitancy in most items (AOR > 1, p < 0.001). Vaccine hesitancy in June had a different trend in perception of COVID-19 compared to that in the January and September surveys. The findings suggested that hesitancy increases transiently during vaccination introduction phases, and changes as the vaccination program progressed or waves of epidemic. Careful risk communication to increase vaccine confidence and literacy is essential to reduce vaccine hesitancy, especially in the introduction phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikiko Tokiya
- Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga 849-8501, Japan; (A.M.); (M.S.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-952-34-2289
| | - Megumi Hara
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga 849-8501, Japan;
| | - Akiko Matsumoto
- Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga 849-8501, Japan; (A.M.); (M.S.A.)
| | - Mohammad Said Ashenagar
- Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga 849-8501, Japan; (A.M.); (M.S.A.)
| | - Takashi Nakano
- Department of Pediatrics, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki 701-0192, Japan;
| | - Yoshio Hirota
- Clinical Epidemiology Research Center, Medical Co. LTA (SOUSEIKAI), Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 813-0017, Japan;
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Abstract
Measles is a highly contagious, potentially fatal, but vaccine-preventable disease caused by measles virus. Symptoms include fever, maculopapular rash, and at least one of cough, coryza, or conjunctivitis, although vaccinated individuals can have milder or even no symptoms. Laboratory diagnosis relies largely on the detection of specific IgM antibodies in serum, dried blood spots, or oral fluid, or the detection of viral RNA in throat or nasopharyngeal swabs, urine, or oral fluid. Complications can affect many organs and often include otitis media, laryngotracheobronchitis, pneumonia, stomatitis, and diarrhoea. Neurological complications are uncommon but serious, and can occur during or soon after the acute disease (eg, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis) or months or even years later (eg, measles inclusion body encephalitis and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis). Patient management mainly involves supportive therapy, such as vitamin A supplementation, monitoring for and treatment of secondary bacterial infections with antibiotics, and rehydration in the case of severe diarrhoea. There is no specific antiviral therapy for the treatment of measles, and disease control largely depends on prevention. However, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine, measles is still endemic in many countries and causes considerable morbidity and mortality, especially among children in resource-poor settings. The low case numbers reported in 2020, after a worldwide resurgence of measles between 2017 and 2019, have to be interpreted cautiously, owing to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on disease surveillance. Disrupted vaccination activities during the pandemic increase the potential for another resurgence of measles in the near future, and effective, timely catch-up vaccination campaigns, strong commitment and leadership, and sufficient resources will be required to mitigate this threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith M Hübschen
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
| | - Ionela Gouandjika-Vasilache
- Laboratoire des Virus Entériques et de la Rougeole, Institut Pasteur de Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic
| | - Julia Dina
- Virology Department, Normandie University, UNICAEN, INSERM U1311 DynaMicURe, Caen University Hospital, Caen, France
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Measles in Spain at the elimination phase: The enemy knocking on the door. Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eimc.2021.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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11
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Odone A, Gianfredi V, Sorbello S, Capraro M, Frascella B, Vigezzi GP, Signorelli C. The Use of Digital Technologies to Support Vaccination Programmes in Europe: State of the Art and Best Practices from Experts' Interviews. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:1126. [PMID: 34696234 PMCID: PMC8538238 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9101126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Digitalisation offers great potential to improve vaccine uptake, supporting the need for effective life-course immunisation services. We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with public health experts from 10 Western European countries (Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, and the United Kingdom) to assess the current level of digitalisation in immunisation programmes and retrieve data on interventions and best practices. Interviews were performed using an ad hoc questionnaire, piloted on a sample of national experts. We report a mixed level of digital technologies deployment within vaccination services across Europe: Some countries are currently developing eHealth strategies, while others have already put in place robust programmes. Institutional websites, educational videos, and electronic immunisation records are the most frequently adopted digital tools. Webinars and dashboards represent valuable resources to train and support healthcare professionals in immunisation services organisation. Text messages, email-based communication, and smartphone apps use is scattered across Europe. The main reported barrier to the implementation of digital-based programmes is the lack of resources and shared standards. Our study offers a comprehensive picture of the European context and shows the need for robust collaboration between states and international institutions to share best practices and inform the planning of digital intervention models with the aim of countering vaccine hesitancy and increasing vaccine uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Odone
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | - Vincenza Gianfredi
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy; (V.G.); (M.C.); (B.F.); (G.P.V.); (C.S.)
| | - Sebastiano Sorbello
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | - Michele Capraro
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy; (V.G.); (M.C.); (B.F.); (G.P.V.); (C.S.)
| | - Beatrice Frascella
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy; (V.G.); (M.C.); (B.F.); (G.P.V.); (C.S.)
| | - Giacomo Pietro Vigezzi
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy; (V.G.); (M.C.); (B.F.); (G.P.V.); (C.S.)
| | - Carlo Signorelli
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy; (V.G.); (M.C.); (B.F.); (G.P.V.); (C.S.)
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12
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Szmyd B, Bartoszek A, Karuga FF, Staniecka K, Błaszczyk M, Radek M. Medical Students and SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination: Attitude and Behaviors. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9020128. [PMID: 33562872 PMCID: PMC7915119 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9020128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Since physicians play a key role in vaccination, the initial training of medical students (MS) should aim to help shape their attitude in this regard. The beginning of vaccination programs against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an excellent time to assess the attitudes held by both medical and non-medical students regarding vaccination. A 51- to 53-item questionnaire including the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale was administered to 1971 students (49.21% male; 34.86% MS); two career-related questions were also addressed to the MS. The majority of surveyed students indicated a desire to get vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, with more medical than non-medical students planning to get vaccinated (91.99% vs. 59.42%). The most common concern about SARS-CoV-2 infection was the risk of passing on the disease to elderly relatives. While conspiracy theories regarding the COVID-19 vaccine are less popular among MS, both groups indicated concerns that vaccines may cause autism is equally common (~5%). Further studies exploring social attitudes towards the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine are a necessary first step to optimizing vaccination programs and achieving herd immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartosz Szmyd
- Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Peripheral Nerves Surgery of Medical University of Lodz, 90-549 Łódź, Poland; (B.S.); (F.F.K.); (K.S.); (M.B.); (M.R.)
| | - Adrian Bartoszek
- Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Peripheral Nerves Surgery of Medical University of Lodz, 90-549 Łódź, Poland; (B.S.); (F.F.K.); (K.S.); (M.B.); (M.R.)
- Department of Pathophysiology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | - Filip Franciszek Karuga
- Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Peripheral Nerves Surgery of Medical University of Lodz, 90-549 Łódź, Poland; (B.S.); (F.F.K.); (K.S.); (M.B.); (M.R.)
- Department of Sleep Medicine and Metabolic Disorders, Medical University of Lodz, 92-215 Łódz, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Staniecka
- Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Peripheral Nerves Surgery of Medical University of Lodz, 90-549 Łódź, Poland; (B.S.); (F.F.K.); (K.S.); (M.B.); (M.R.)
| | - Maciej Błaszczyk
- Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Peripheral Nerves Surgery of Medical University of Lodz, 90-549 Łódź, Poland; (B.S.); (F.F.K.); (K.S.); (M.B.); (M.R.)
| | - Maciej Radek
- Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Peripheral Nerves Surgery of Medical University of Lodz, 90-549 Łódź, Poland; (B.S.); (F.F.K.); (K.S.); (M.B.); (M.R.)
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