1
|
Baker P, Cepeda JA, Schluth C, Astemborski J, Feder KA, Rudolph J, Sun J, Kirk GD, Mehta SH, Genberg BL. Time-to-completion of COVID-19 vaccination primary series varies by HIV viral load status among people who inject drugs in Baltimore, Maryland. Prev Med Rep 2023; 36:102448. [PMID: 37840593 PMCID: PMC10570701 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
People who inject drugs (PWID) may have diminished access to essential preventive services like COVID-19 vaccination given structural and substance use barriers. We aimed to assess the role of HIV on COVID-19 vaccination uptake among adult PWID participating in the ALIVE cohort study in Baltimore, Maryland who were alive as of April 2021. We abstracted COVID-19 vaccination data from electronic medical records via the regional health information exchange. We used Kaplan-Meier method to estimate time from universal vaccine eligibility (April 6, 2021) to completion of the COVID-19 vaccination primary series (1 dose J&J or 2 doses mRNA) by HIV viral load status (uninfected, PWH [HIV-RNA < 400 copies/mL], PWH [HIV-RNA ≥ 400 copies/mL]) and Cox Proportional Hazards regression to adjust for potential confounders. Our sample (N = 960) was primarily black (77%) and male (65%) with 31% reporting recent injection drug use. Among 265 (27%) people living with HIV (PWH) in our sample, 84% were virally suppressed. As of February 22, 2022, 539 (56%) completed the primary series, 131 (14%) received a single dose of mRNA vaccine and 290 (30%) remained unvaccinated. Compared to PWID without HIV, virally suppressed PWH were more likely to complete the primary series (Adjusted Hazard Ratio [aHR]:1.23,95% Confidence Interval [95 %CI]:1.07,1.50), while PWH who were not virally suppressed were less likely (aHR:0.72,95 %CI:0.45,1.16), although this was not statistically significant. We conclude that among PWID, HIV infection and viral suppression is associated with quicker vaccination uptake, likely due to HIV care engagement. Targeted improvements along the HIV care continuum may bolster vaccine uptake.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pieter Baker
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, United States
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, United States
| | - Javier A Cepeda
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, United States
| | - Catherine Schluth
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, United States
| | - Jacquie Astemborski
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, United States
| | - Kenneth A. Feder
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, United States
| | - Jacqueline Rudolph
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, United States
| | - Jing Sun
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, United States
| | - Gregory D. Kirk
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, United States
- School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
| | - Shruti H. Mehta
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, United States
| | - Becky L. Genberg
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li P, Wang Q, He Y, Yang C, Zhang Z, Liu Z, Liu B, Yin L, Cui Y, Hu P, Liu Y, Zheng P, Wang W, Qu L, Sun C, Guan S, Feng L, Chen L. Booster vaccination is required to elicit and maintain COVID-19 vaccine-induced immunity in SIV-infected macaques. Emerg Microbes Infect 2023; 12:e2136538. [PMID: 36239345 PMCID: PMC9980405 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2136538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACTProlonged infection and possible evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in patients living with uncontrolled HIV-1 infection highlight the importance of an effective vaccination regimen, yet the immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines and predictive immune biomarkers have not been well investigated. Herein, we report that the magnitude and persistence of antibody and cell-mediated immunity (CMI) elicited by an Ad5-vectored COVID-19 vaccine are impaired in SIV-infected macaques with high viral loads (> 105 genome copies per ml plasma, SIVhi) but not in macaques with low viral loads (< 105, SIVlow). After a second vaccination, the immune responses are robustly enhanced in all uninfected and SIVlow macaques. These responses also show a moderate increase in 70% SIVhi macaques but decline sharply soon after. Further analysis reveals that decreased antibody and CMI responses are associated with reduced circulating follicular helper T cell (TFH) counts and aberrant CD4/CD8 ratios, respectively, indicating that dysregulation of CD4+ T cells by SIV infection impairs the COVID-19 vaccine-induced immunity. Ad5-vectored COVID-19 vaccine shows no impact on SIV loads or SIV-specific CMI responses. Our study underscores the necessity of frequent booster vaccinations in HIV-infected patients and provides indicative biomarkers for predicting vaccination effectiveness in these patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pingchao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Laboratory of Computational Biomedicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China, Pingchao Li State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Laboratory of Computational Biomedicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; Liqiang Feng
| | - Qian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yizi He
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Laboratory of Computational Biomedicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chenchen Yang
- Guangzhou nBiomed Ltd., Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhengyuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Laboratory of Computational Biomedicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zijian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Laboratory of Computational Biomedicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bo Liu
- Guangzhou nBiomed Ltd., Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Li Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Laboratory of Computational Biomedicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yilan Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Laboratory of Computational Biomedicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Peiyu Hu
- Guangzhou Laboratory & Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yichu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Laboratory of Computational Biomedicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Pingqian Zheng
- Guangzhou Laboratory & Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Wang
- Guangzhou Laboratory & Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Linbing Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Laboratory of Computational Biomedicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Caijun Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Laboratory of Computational Biomedicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Suhua Guan
- Guangzhou nBiomed Ltd., Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Liqiang Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Laboratory of Computational Biomedicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China,Guangzhou Laboratory & Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ling Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Laboratory of Computational Biomedicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China,State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China,Guangzhou Laboratory & Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China,Ling Chen State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Laboratory of Computational Biomedicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Abbasi SAA, Noor T, Mylavarapu M, Sahotra M, Bashir HA, Bhat RR, Jindal U, Amin U, V A, Siddiqui HF. Double Trouble Co-Infections: Understanding the Correlation Between COVID-19 and HIV Viruses. Cureus 2023; 15:e38678. [PMID: 37288215 PMCID: PMC10243673 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.38678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
A global outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), mounted a substantial threat to public health worldwide. It initially emerged as a mere outbreak in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and quickly engulfed the entire world, evolving into a global pandemic, consuming millions of lives and leaving a catastrophic effect on our lives in ways unimaginable. The entire healthcare system was significantly impacted and HIV healthcare was not spared. In this article, we reviewed the effect of HIV on COVID-19 disease and the ramifications of the recent COVID-19 pandemic over HIV management strategies. Our review highlights that contrary to the instinctive belief that HIV should render patients susceptible to COVID-19 infection, the studies depicted mixed results, although comorbidities and other confounders greatly affected the results. Few studies showed a higher rate of in-hospital mortality due to COVID-19 among HIV patients; however, the use of antiretroviral therapy had no consequential effect. COVID-19 vaccination was deemed safe among HIV patients in general. The recent pandemic can destabilize the HIV epidemic control as it hugely impacted access to care and preventive services and led to a marked reduction in HIV testing. The collision of these two disastrous pandemics warrants the need to materialize rigorous epidemiological measures and health policies, but most importantly, brisk research in prevention strategies to mitigate the combined burden of the two viruses and to battle similar future pandemics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Tarika Noor
- Department of Medicine, Government Medical College, Patiala, Ludhiana, IND
| | | | - Monika Sahotra
- Department of Medicine, Bukovinian State Medical University, Chernivtsi, UKR
| | - Hunmble A Bashir
- Forensic Medicine, Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Lahore Medical College and Institute of Dentistry, Lahore, PAK
| | - Rakshita Ramesh Bhat
- Medical Oncology, Mangalore Institute of Oncology, Mangalore, IND
- Internal Medicine, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore, IND
| | - Urmi Jindal
- Department of Medicine, Karamshi Jethabhai Somaiya Medical College, Mumbai, IND
| | - Uzma Amin
- Pathology, Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, PAK
| | - Anushree V
- Department of Medicine, Jagadguru Jayadeva Murugarajendra (JJM) Medical College, Davangere, IND
| | - Humza F Siddiqui
- Department of Medicine, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, PAK
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mounika VL, Kumar VU, Dhingra S, Ravichandiran V, Pandey K, Parihar VK, Murti K. CD4 + Count: a Variable to Be Considered to Prioritize COVID-19 Vaccination in PLHIV. CURRENT PHARMACOLOGY REPORTS 2023; 9:90-97. [PMID: 36844431 PMCID: PMC9944399 DOI: 10.1007/s40495-023-00312-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
The outbreak of the COVID-19 propagates, pressurizing the healthcare system by emphasizing and worsening the inequities. While many vaccines have shown excellent efficacy in protecting the general public from the COVID-19 infection, the efficacy of these vaccines for people living with HIV (PLHIV), especially those having a different range of CD4 + T-cell, has yet to be thoroughly investigated. Few studies have uncovered the escalated infection and death rates due to the COVID-19 infection in individuals with low CD4 + T-cells. Additionally, PLHIV has a low CD4 + count; furthermore, specific CD4 + T cells for coronavirus have a vigorous Th1 role and are related to the protective antibody responses. Follicular helper T cells (TFH) are vulnerable to HIV and virus-specific CD4 & CD8 T-cells which are essential for viral infection clearance and defective immune responses which further contributes to the development of illness. The specific CD8 & CD4 + T-cell reaction to severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) was identified in almost all COVID-19 recovered individuals, which is related to the size of antibodies of immunoglobulin G. It has previously been demonstrated that PLHIV has decreased responses to certain vaccines and that these responses are reliant on CD4 + T-cell levels. COVID-19 vaccines will likely have a lower response or limited effect, in PLHIV having low CD4 + T-cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vakada Lakshmi Mounika
- grid.464629.b0000 0004 1775 2698Department of Pharmacy Practice, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Bihar 844102 India
| | - V. Udaya Kumar
- grid.464629.b0000 0004 1775 2698Department of Pharmacy Practice, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Bihar 844102 India
| | - Sameer Dhingra
- grid.464629.b0000 0004 1775 2698Department of Pharmacy Practice, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Bihar 844102 India
| | - V. Ravichandiran
- grid.506039.90000 0004 1775 4052Department of Natural Products, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal India
| | - Krishna Pandey
- grid.203448.90000 0001 0087 4291Division of Clinical Medicine, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences Agamkaun, Bihar Patna, India
| | - Vipan Kumar Parihar
- grid.464629.b0000 0004 1775 2698Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Bihar India
| | - Krishna Murti
- grid.464629.b0000 0004 1775 2698Department of Pharmacy Practice, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Bihar 844102 India
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Fleury H. HIV and SARS-CoV-2 Pathogenesis and Vaccine Development. Viruses 2022; 14:v14122598. [PMID: 36560600 PMCID: PMC9781173 DOI: 10.3390/v14122598] [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: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Although both HIV and SARS-CoV-2 are associated with pandemics, they are transmitted differently [...]
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Herve Fleury
- Université de Bordeaux et CNRS, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wong NS, Wong BCK, Chan JMC, Wong KH, Tsang OTY, Mok CKP, Hui DSC, Lee SS, Chan DPC. Surrogate neutralization responses following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccination in people with HIV: comparison between inactivated and mRNA vaccine. AIDS 2022; 36:1255-1264. [PMID: 35466962 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE People with HIV (PWH) co-infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are at higher odds of severe diseases. Whereas the immunogenicity of mRNA vaccine and adenovirus-vectored vaccine was similar between PWH in stable condition and healthy adults, the effects of inactivated vaccines are not known. DESIGN Prospective longitudinal observational study in real-world setting. METHODS Adult PWH in care and planning to receive either inactivated (day 0 and day 28) or mRNA-based (day 0 and day 21) vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 were recruited, with blood samples collected over 6 months for surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT). Demographic and clinical data including age, sex, CD4 + cell count, and suppressed viral load (SVL) status were transcribed for analyses, by simple and multivariable linear regression models, and multivariable linear generalized estimating equations (GEE). RESULTS A total of 611 HIV patients, 91% male patients, were recruited, of whom 423 and 184 have received mRNA-based and inactivated vaccine, respectively. The seroconversion rate was 99% for mRNA-based vs, 86% for inactivated vaccine [odds ratio (OR) = 21.56, P = 0.004]. At 6 months, mRNA-based vaccine continued to give a higher response (94 vs. 57%, P < 0.001). The temporal pattern varied between the two vaccines. By GEE, mRNA-based vaccine ( B = 40.59, P < 0.001) and latest SVL status ( B = 10.76, P = 0.01) were positively associated with sVNT level, but not latest CD4 + cell count. CONCLUSION In HIV patients, inactivated vaccine gave a lower peak and shorter duration of sVNT responses compared with mRNA vaccine. The results suggested that different strategies may be needed in boosting the immunity in anticipation of the emergence of variants in the community.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ngai Sze Wong
- Stanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases
- The JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
| | - Bonnie C K Wong
- Special Preventive Programme, Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government
| | - Jacky M C Chan
- Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, Princess Margaret Hospital
| | - Ka Hing Wong
- Special Preventive Programme, Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government
| | - Owen T Y Tsang
- Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, Princess Margaret Hospital
| | - Chris K P Mok
- The JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Hong, China
| | - David S C Hui
- Stanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
IgG Antibody Responses and Immune Persistence of Two Doses of BBIBP-CorV Vaccine or CoronaVac Vaccine in People Living with HIV (PLWH) in Shenzhen, China. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10060880. [PMID: 35746488 PMCID: PMC9231003 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10060880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to preliminarily evaluate the immunogenicity and immune persistence of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in PLWH in the real world. We collected blood samples from 132 PLWH aged 18−59 years who were vaccinated with two doses of BBIBP-CorV vaccine (Sinopharm) or CoronaVac vaccine (SinoVac) at 28 ± 7 days and 180 ± 20 days the after second dose, to detect the level of Spike receptor binding domain-protein specific IgG (S-RBD-IgG) by using chemiluminescence. We found that the BBIBP-CorV vaccine or the CoronaVac vaccine induced lower S-RBD-IgG antibody seropositivity rates and levels in PLWH than in healthy controls (HCs). The BBIBP-CorV vaccine or the CoronaVac vaccine induced lower humoral immune responses in PLWH, having lower CD4+T cell counts (<350 cells/μL) compared to PLWH, and having higher CD4+T cell counts (≥350 cells/μL) after a second dose of vaccination. The BBIBP-CorV vaccine or the CoronaVac vaccine induced lower S-RBD-IgG antibody levels in PLWH, having CD4+T cell counts ≥350 cells/μL compared to HCs. No negative effects were observed in terms of the CD4+T cell counts and HIV RNA viral load (VL) of PLWH after vaccination. Ninety-nine PLWH and eighty-three HCs completed a second blood collection for testing; we found a statistically significant decrease in the humoral immune response both in PLWH and HCs from 28 days to 180 days after a second dose of BBIBP-CorV vaccine or CoronaVac vaccine. The S-RBD-IgG antibody induced by the BBIBP-CorV vaccine or the CoronaVac vaccine declined faster in the PLWH population than in the healthy population, and two doses of the BBIBP-CorV vaccine or the CoronaVac vaccine may not be enough to provide PLWH with persistent immunity against SARS-CoV-2. It is necessary for PLWH to be prioritized for a third dose over the healthy population, but the immunogenicity of the third dose of the homologous or heterologous vaccine requires further study.
Collapse
|
8
|
Pavia CS. Pasteur, Vaccines, and the Refusal to Become Fully Vaccinated in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Public Health 2022; 10:815816. [PMID: 35356013 PMCID: PMC8959374 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.815816] [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: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccines are one of the most effective public health measures that are designed to prevent serious illness caused by a wide variety of infectious agents, which have become especially important in light of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Despite the favorable outcomes associated with vaccine development and use, a new wave of hesitancy to get vaccinated has emerged that threatens the control or quick elimination of the highly contagious and life-threatening infection caused by SARS-CoV-2. At the forefront of the current anti-vaccine movement is the dissemination of false and misleading information. This essay explores the primary reasons, which also includes an historical connection, behind this anti-vaccine sentiment, and proposes several possible and realistic interventions that could be implemented to counter this notion and significantly improve vaccine acceptance, especially among young people.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charles S Pavia
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY, United States.,Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|