Vaccine hesitancy and refusal among parents: An international ID-IRI survey

INTRODUCTION

Although vaccines are the safest and most effective means to prevent and control infectious diseases, the increasing rate of vaccine hesitancy and refusal (VHR) has become a worldwide concern. We aimed to find opinions of parents on vaccinating their children and contribute to available literature in order to support the fight against vaccine refusal by investigating the reasons for VHR on a global scale.

METHODOLOGY

In this international cross-sectional multicenter study conducted by the Infectious Diseases International Research Initiative (ID-IRI), a questionnaire consisting of 20 questions was used to determine parents' attitudes towards vaccination of their children.

RESULTS

Four thousand and twenty-nine (4,029) parents were included in the study and 2,863 (78.1%) were females. The overall VHR rate of the parents was found to be 13.7%. Nineteen-point three percent (19.3%) of the parents did not fully comply with the vaccination programs. The VHR rate was higher in high-income (HI) countries. Our study has shown that parents with disabled children and immunocompromised children, with low education levels, and those who use social media networks as sources of information for childhood immunizations had higher VHR rates (p < 0.05 for all).

CONCLUSIONS

Seemingly all factors leading to VHR are related to training of the community and the sources of training. Thus, it is necessary to develop strategies at a global level and provide reliable knowledge to combat VHR.

Heavy Metal Levels and Mineral Nutrient Status of Natural Walnut (Juglans regia L.) Populations in Kyrgyzstan: Nutritional Values of Kernels

In this study, mineral nutrient and heavy metal (Al, Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, and Zn) contents of the walnut kernels and their co-located soil samples collected from the four different zones of natural walnut forests (Sary-Chelek, Arslanbap, and Kara-Alma in Jalal-Abad Region and Kara-Shoro in Osh Region) in Kyrgyzstan were investigated. The highest concentrations for all elements determined in the soil samples were observed in the Sary-Chelek zone whereas the Arslanbap zone was found to be having the lowest concentrations except Fe and Zn. The highest concentrations in the kernels of walnut samples were found to be in the Sary-Chelek zone for Ca, Fe, K, Mg, and Zn; in the Kara-Shoro zone for Cu; in the Arslanbap zone for Mn; and in the Kara-Alma zone for Na whereas the lowest concentrations were found to be in the Arslanbap zone for Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, and Zn and in the Sary-Chelek zone for Cu and Mn, respectively. Also, the levels of Al, Cd, Ni, and Pb in kernel samples could not be detected by ICP-OES because their levels were lower than the threshold detection point (10 μg.kg^-1). Additionally, our data indicated that the walnut kernels from Kyrgyzstan have higher values for RDA (recommended daily allowances) in comparison with the walnut kernels from other countries.

Infective endocarditis and spondylodiscitis due to posterior nasal packing in a patient with a bioprosthetic aortic valve

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a severe form of heart valve disease and is associated with a poor prognosis and high risk of mortality. We report the first known case of bioprosthetic aortic valve endocarditis associated with spondylodiscitis as a result of posterior nasal packing coated with antibiotics but without systemic antibiotic prophylaxis.

Transbrachial coil occlusion of unligated thoracic side branch of arterial graft of internal mammary artery leading to silent ischemia in a diabetic patient

There is not an established consensus on the treatment of coronary steal syndrome caused by unligated thoracic side branches of internal mammary artery. Occlusion of thoracic side branch is not recommended without objective evidence of ischemia. This case report presents transbrachial coil occlusion of thoracic side branch of left internal mammary artery causing silent ischemia in a diabetic patient with atypical chest pain and palpitation.