Implementation Of Vaccination Research Articles

Physiological Response to the COVID-19 Vaccine: Insights From a Prospective, Randomized, Single-Blinded, Crossover Trial.

Rapid development and implementation of vaccines constituted a crucial step in containing the COVID-19 pandemic. A comprehensive understanding of physiological responses to these vaccines is important to build trust in medicine. This study aims to investigate temporal dynamics before and after COVID-19 vaccination in 4 physiological parameters as well as the duration of menstrual cycle phases. In a prospective trial, 17,825 adults in the Netherlands wore a medical device on their wrist for up to 9 months. The device recorded their physiological signals and synchronized with a complementary smartphone app. By means of multilevel quadratic regression, we examined changes in wearable-recorded breathing rate, wrist skin temperature, heart rate, heart rate variability, and objectively assessed the duration of menstrual cycle phases in menstruating participants to assess the effects of COVID-19 vaccination. The recorded physiological signals demonstrated short-term increases in breathing rate and heart rate after COVID-19 vaccination followed by a prompt rebound to baseline levels likely reflecting biological mechanisms accompanying the immune response to vaccination. No sex differences were evident in the measured physiological responses. In menstruating participants, we found a 0.8% decrease in the duration of the menstrual phase following vaccination. The observed short-term changes suggest that COVID-19 vaccines are not associated with long-term biophysical issues. Taken together, our work provides valuable insights into continuous fluctuations of physiological responses to vaccination and highlights the importance of digital solutions in health care. RR2-10.1186/s13063-021-05241-5.

Assessing the resilience of child immunisation programmes using geospatial modelling and interrupted time series analysis in Ethiopia and Kenya amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: tracking coverage and identifying key challenges

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare provision and access in sub-Saharan Africa. Lockdowns and travel restrictions, coupled with fear of contracting the virus, disrupted services, especially for women’s and children’s health,...

Building National Identity via Immunity

Abstract This research investigates the impact of “not burdening the state” as a practice of national identity on vaccine implementation in China’s response to COVID-19. The study shows how vaccination provides a pathway for some Chinese citizens to practice “immunity national identity,” creating solidarity by invoking individual obligation toward the collective and the state. In this process, the science of vaccines is politicized, contributing to the building of a sense of belonging to and identification with the state. By showing how the immunized and vaccinated body works as a site generating the community of the nation-state, this research argues that immunity, residing beyond the healthy body and entangled with national identity, becomes a means of strengthening and imagining “us.” This paper shows how the sense of belonging to the nation interacts with vaccine-related information, influencing individuals’ willingness to accept vaccines, and how the act of vaccination and public knowledge about vaccines further shape national identity.

Exploring the perceptions and experiences of mobile teams on COVID-19 vaccine uptake at the community level: evidence from Benue and Niger states

BackgroundAs part of the fight against coronavirus disease, Nigeria received nearly 4 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine via the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) Facility, marking a historic step towards equitable global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Although evidence exists on COVID-19 hesitancy in Nigeria, yet, we are unaware of any study on the optimization of COVID-19 vaccination from the lenses of the mobile teams.ObjectiveThis study seeks to explore the perceptions and experiences of mobile teams in selected communities during the implementation of COVID-19 vaccination in Benue and Niger.MethodsAn exploratory approach was adopted, and the study was conducted in Niger and Benue states based on poor performance in COVID-19 vaccination. Focus Group Discussions (FDGs) were conducted among 12 mobile vaccination teams from 12 LGAs. The recorded discussions were transcribed and coded (inductively and deductively) using Dedoose software (v9.0). Four themes and seven sub-themes were generated from the participants’ responses.ResultsSeventy-two (72) health workers including vaccinators, validators, Electronic Management of Immunization Data (EMID) recorders, social mobilizers, and paper recorders participated in this study. Health workers’ perceptions and experiences were thematized using the health building blocks. The mobilization teams in Benue and Niger states perceived that their mobilization efforts contributed to improved coverage, increased accessibility, and reduced hesitancy among the community dwellers. Challenges reported by the teams were vaccine misconceptions, requests for incentives in exchange for vaccine uptake, poor network services, distance to communities, and vaccine stockout.ConclusionThis study concluded that social mobilizers play key roles in vaccine uptake, especially at the community level. Their roles in creating awareness, sensitization, and bringing the vaccine closer to hard-to-reach communities contributed to the success attained in the fight against COVID-19 in both states.

"The Show Must Go on": Medical Assistants and Their Experience Managing Vaccination during the Covid-19 Pandemic

With the beginning of the Covid-19 vaccinations in primary care, a new and work-intensive responsibility arose for medical assistants (MA). In addition to their existing duties and the challenges posed by Covid-19, they had to organize, plan, and in some cases carry out the vaccinations and follow up on the documentation. A total of 21 semi-structured interviews were conducted with MA between April and September 2021. Particularly considering the timing of the interview, questions were asked about the daily work routine and the associated vaccine organization. The interviews were then analyzed using MAXQDA software based on Kuckartz's qualitative content analysis. The MA criticized a lack of organization and transparency in the planning and implementation of vaccinations. Each vaccination had to be pre- and post-processed, resulting in an immense bureaucratic effort. Additional work and stress were the results. Also, MA had to deal with difficult patients. The experience of MA must be taken into consideration in the future to create guidance for dealing with an increased demand for vaccinations. The guidelines for the future must ensure that MA are relieved and supported by a meaningful organization during such events.

Synthetic mRNAs Containing Minimalistic Untranslated Regions Are Highly Functional In Vitro and In Vivo.

Synthetic mRNA produced by in vitro transcription (ivt mRNA) is the active pharmaceutical ingredient of approved anti-COVID-19 vaccines and of many drugs under development. Such synthetic mRNA typically contains several hundred bases of non-coding "untranslated" regions (UTRs) that are involved in the stabilization and translation of the mRNA. However, UTRs are often complex structures, which may complicate the entire production process. To eliminate this obstacle, we managed to reduce the total amount of nucleotides in the UTRs to only four bases. In this way, we generate minimal ivt mRNA ("minRNA"), which is less complex than the usual optimized ivt mRNAs that are contained, for example, in approved vaccines. We have compared the efficacy of minRNA to common augmented mRNAs (with UTRs of globin genes or those included in licensed vaccines) in vivo and in vitro and could demonstrate equivalent functionalities. Our minimal mRNA design will facilitate the further development and implementation of ivt mRNA-based vaccines and therapies.

What is proven in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus?

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with variable clinical presentation and organ involvement. Early diagnosis and rapid achievement of low disease activity or remission reduces organ damage and improves prognosis. Therapeutic principles can be divided into so-called basic measures and immunosuppressive treatment. Novel drugs have been developed in recent years, with new classes of agents being added for the treatment of SLE. These include biologic therapies and approved therapeutic options for the treatment of lupus nephritis. In light of improved treatment options, good disease control can now frequently be achieved; with savings on glucocorticoids, combination therapies are increasingly being used. Of great importance is the consistent use of basic measures, which include the use of hydroxychloroquine, optimization of cardiovascular risk factors, UV protection, bone-protective measures, and the implementation of vaccinations. In the treatment of lupus nephritis, conservative therapeutic measures for nephroprotection play acrucial role in renal prognosis. Finally, non-pharmacological therapy options such as exercise therapy are of great importance for improving quality of life.

Human norovirus in Brazil: an update of reports in different settings.

Norovirus is an important etiologic agent of acute gastroenteritis and has become even more relevant in Brazil after the implementation of the monovalent rotavirus vaccine in 2006 through the public health system, now representing a significant portion of the etiology of acute diarrheal diseases. Although diagnosing acute gastroenteritis caused by norovirus is a relatively simple process, and the infection tends to be self-limited, the virus can be considerably harmful to vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. The spread of norovirus is also particularly favorable among such groups due to its mode of transmission, favored by cluttered environments such as in hospitals and densely populated regions. Additionally, norovirus' ability to spread through water and food creates the need for measures to ensure adequate sanitation and the development of effective measures to prevent outbreaks and severe manifestations of the disease. This review aims to address the main reports of human norovirus detected in Brazil over the years, focusing on clinical-hospital, food-related, and urban conglomerate contexts, including the circulating strains.

Estimating the Global and Regional Burden of Streptococcus pneumoniae Meningitis in Children: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) has been a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children. The most recent estimation of the global burden of Spn meningitis indicates a positive trajectory in eliminating Spn through the implementation of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. However, continuous monitoring and assessment of the disease burden are necessary due to the evidence of serotype replacement, antibiotic resistance, and the impact of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this systematic review is to provide an updated and focused assessment of the global and regional burden of Spn meningitis in children, which can guide policies and strategies to reduce the disease burden. Population-based studies published from January 1, 2000, to January 1, 2022, were preliminarily searched from the electronic databases PubMed, Embase, Global Health (CABI), and CINAHL Plus without any language restrictions. Studies were included if they reported the incidence, prevalence, mortality, or case-fatality ratio (CFR) for Spn meningitis in children aged 0-4 years; meningitis was confirmed by cerebrospinal fluid culture; the study period was a minimum of 1 year; the number of reported cases was at least 10; and the study had no methodological ambiguities. The article screening process follows the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Characteristics including study period, setting, World Health Organization region, income level, vaccination information, and participant data (age, number of cases, deaths, sequelae, and risk factors) will be extracted from the included studies. Search results will be updated and incorporated into our review prior to finalizing the extraction of data. Generalized linear mixed models meta-analysis will be performed to estimate the pooled incidence and CFR. We will further assess the risk of bias and heterogeneity, and will perform subgroup and sensitivity analyses to provide a meaningful interpretation of the current burden and literature for pneumococcal meningitis. Our preliminary search in December 2021 yielded 9295 articles. Out of 275 studies that were assessed with our eligibility criteria, 117 articles were included. Data extraction and analysis are expected to be complete by January 2025. We plan to publish the results from the full study, including an updated search in 2024, by March 2025. Given that the major burden of Spn meningitis affects children under the age of 5 years, this systematic review will provide a thorough understanding of the global burden of Spn meningitis in this vulnerable population over a span of 2 decades. Insights into incidence trends, geospatial distribution, risk factors, and sequelae will be valuable for stakeholders, policy makers, and the academic community. This information will aid in the ongoing monitoring of the disease and in enhancing targeted vaccine programs to further mitigate the impact of the disease on children worldwide. PROSPERO CRD42021293110; https://tinyurl.com/kc3j5k4m. DERR1-10.2196/50678.

Stakeholders' Perceptions on the Implementation of the HPV Vaccine School-Entry Requirement in Puerto Rico during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study explored the implementation of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine school-entry requirement in Puerto Rico during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted 26 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders and community-based organizations from August 2021 to March 2022. The interview guide was developed using the 2009 Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). The interviews were recorded and transcribed in Spanish. Data were analyzed using applied thematic techniques. These themes included the following: (i) Intervention characteristics: Participants noted that the school-entry requirement was effective in increasing vaccination uptake prior to the pandemic. Issues with the immunization registry were noted; (ii) Outer setting: External influences, access barriers, and an increase in HPV vaccine exemptions since the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccine were discussed; (iii) Inner setting: Communication within organizations and HPV vaccination efforts improved as the pandemic progressed; (iv) Characteristics of individuals: Most agreed with the school-entry requirement, including exemptions; and (v) Process: Results showed the need to reinforce the population's education about HPV and the vaccine. Implementation of the policy was challenging during the early stages of the pandemic due to measures enacted to stop the spread of COVID-19 and focus on the COVID-19 vaccine. Efforts to increase HPV vaccine should focus on increasing HPV vaccine education and creating collaborations.

تأثير لقاح كوفيد -19 على الدورة الشهرية

Background: The implementation of vaccines is a major step in saving humanity from the consequences of COVID-19, and there has become hope for everyone in the world. Menstruation is a key indicator of overall women's health. The COVID-19 vaccination has been associated with changes in the menstrual cycle. Objective: To evaluate the effects of COVID-19 vaccines on the menstrual cycle. Methods: This is a face-to-face interview-based cross-sectional study that recruited 403 vaccinated women with the COVID-19 vaccine who had normal MC before receiving the vaccine for at least six months in Mosul, Iraq, from February 1 to July 31, 2022. We asked the women about their menstrual cycle parameters before and after the vaccination. The results were analyzed statistically. Results: The most frequent age group among study participants was 20–34 years (52.9%). About half of women (58.3%) had received the Pfizer vaccine. 12.2% and 13.65% of women reported significant changes in their menstrual cycle following the first and second doses, respectively. These changes included irregularities in the cycle and modifications in the amount and duration of menses, and the Pfizer vaccine was significantly responsible for these changes. Conclusions: In a small number of women who had a normal menstrual cycle before vaccination, post-Covid-19 vaccination menstrual cycle changes occurred, and the reported changes were not critical. This result can reassure the community about the vaccine's impact on the menstrual cycle.

The cost of delivering COVID-19 vaccines in Vietnam

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic affected hundreds of millions of people and lives, and vaccination was the safest and most effective strategy to prevent and mitigate the burden of this disease. The implementation of COVID-19 vaccination in Vietnam in 2021 was unprecedentedly challenging in scale and complexity, yet economic evidence on the cost of delivery vaccines thought the program was lacking.MethodsThis retrospective costing study utilized a bottom-up, ingredient-based approach to estimate the cost of delivering COVID-19 vaccines in Vietnam in 2021, from a payer perspective. The study included 38 study sites across all administrative and implementation level, including three geographic areas and two delivery strategies, in two provinces, Hanoi and Dak Lak. The study findings were complemented with qualitative interviews with health staff and stakeholders.ResultsThe economic cost to deliver one COVID-19 vaccine dose was $1.73, mostly comprised of opportunity costs ($1.14 per dose) which were driven by labor costs ($1.12 per dose). The delivery cost in urban areas was the highest ($2.02), followed by peri-urban areas ($1.45) and remote areas ($1.37). Delivery costs were higher at temporary sites ($1.78) when compared to facility-based delivery ($1.63). Comparing low-volume and high-volume periods showed that the delivery cost decreased significantly as volume increased, from $5.24 per dose to $1.65 per dose.ConclusionsThe study estimates the cost of delivering COVID-19 vaccines in Vietnam in 2021. Enabling factors and challenges during the implementation of the program were explored. Study limitations may lead to underestimation of results and reduce generalizability.

Geographical migration and fitness dynamics of Streptococcus pneumoniae

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of pneumonia and meningitis worldwide. Many different serotypes co-circulate endemically in any one location1,2. The extent and mechanisms of spread and vaccine-driven changes in fitness and antimicrobial resistance remain largely unquantified. Here using geolocated genome sequences from South Africa (n = 6,910, collected from 2000 to 2014), we developed models to reconstruct spread, pairing detailed human mobility data and genomic data. Separately, we estimated the population-level changes in fitness of strains that are included (vaccine type (VT)) and not included (non-vaccine type (NVT)) in pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, first implemented in South Africa in 2009. Differences in strain fitness between those that are and are not resistant to penicillin were also evaluated. We found that pneumococci only become homogenously mixed across South Africa after 50 years of transmission, with the slow spread driven by the focal nature of human mobility. Furthermore, in the years following vaccine implementation, the relative fitness of NVT compared with VT strains increased (relative risk of 1.68; 95% confidence interval of 1.59–1.77), with an increasing proportion of these NVT strains becoming resistant to penicillin. Our findings point to highly entrenched, slow transmission and indicate that initial vaccine-linked decreases in antimicrobial resistance may be transient.

Improving HPV Vaccination Uptake Among Adolescents in Low Resource Settings: Sociocultural and Socioeconomic Barriers and Facilitators.

Lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are disproportionately impacted by human papillomavirus (HPV) and would benefit from implementing the HPV vaccine. In the context of competing health priorities, utilizing scarce domestic infrastructure and human resources for HPV vaccination remains challenging for many LMICs. Given the high benefits of the HPV vaccine, the World Health Organization (WHO) is now encouraging for all countries, particularly LMICs, to introduce HPV vaccines into their routine immunization programs. Understanding the barriers and facilitators to HPV adolescent vaccine programs in LMICs may help strengthen how LMICs implement HPV vaccine programs, in turn, increasing HPV vaccine acceptance, uptake, and coverage. To identify and assess barriers and facilitators to implementing adolescent HPV vaccination programs in LMICs. This study comprised a review of literature assessing adolescent HPV vaccination in LMICs published after 2020 from a sociocultural perspective. Overall, the findings showed that LMICs should prioritize increasing HPV vaccine availability and HPV vaccine knowledge, particularly focusing on cancer prevention, as knowledge reduces misinformation and increases vaccine acceptance. Evidence suggests that factors promoting HPV vaccine uptake include fostering low vaccine hesitancy, integrating HPV vaccination as a primary school routine vaccination, and vaccinating both genders. A one-dose HPV vaccine may enable many LMICs to increase vaccine acceptance, uptake, and coverage while controlling financial, infrastructure, and human resource costs. As HPV is one of the leading causes of death in many LMICs, implementing the HPV vaccine may be highly beneficial. Cohesive national HPV vaccine buy-in and understanding the success and challenges of prior LMIC HPV vaccine implementation is crucial to developing effective, efficient, and sustainable HPV vaccination programs.

Assessing the modification impact of vaccination on the relationship of the Discomfort Index with hand, foot, and mouth disease in Guizhou: A multicounty study.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a major public health issue in China while temperature and humidity are well-documented predictors. However, evidence on the combined effect of temperature and humidity is still limited. It also remains unclear whether such an effect could be modified by the enterovirus 71 (EV71) vaccination. Based on 320,042 reported HFMD cases during the summer months between 2012 and 2019, we conducted a study utilizing Distributed Lag Non-Linear Models (DLNM) and time-varying DLNM to examine how China's HFMD EV71 vaccine strategy would affect the correlation between meteorological conditions and HFMD risk. The incidence of HFMD changed with the Discomfort Index in an arm-shaped form. The 14-day cumulative risk of HFMD exhibited a statistically significant increase during the period of 2017-2019 (following the implementation of the EV71 vaccine policy) compared to 2012-2016 (prior to the vaccine implementation). For the total population, the range of relative risk (RR) values for HFMD at the 75th, 90th, and 99th percentiles increased from 1.082-1.303 in 2012-2016 to 1.836-2.022 in 2017-2019. In the stratified analyses, Han Chinese areas show stronger relative growth, with RR values at the 75th, 90th, and 99th percentiles increased by 14.3%, 39.1%, and 134.4% post-vaccination, compared to increases of 22.7%, 41.6%, and 38.8% in minority areas. Similarly, boys showed greater increases (24.4%, 47.7%, 121.5%) compared to girls (8.1%, 28.1%, 58.3%). Additionally, the central Guizhou urban agglomeration displayed a tendency for stronger relative growth compared to other counties. Although the EV71 vaccine policy has been implemented, it hasn't effectively controlled the overall risk of HFMD. There's been a shift in the main viral subtypes, potentially altering population susceptibility and influencing HFMD occurrences. The modulating effects of vaccine intervention may also be influenced by factors such as race, sex, and economic level.

Updated vaccination and screening recommendations for hepatitis B: Implications for pharmacists

The number of new infections of hepatitis B is rising and a large number of cases are undiagnosed. These factors are contributing to hepatitis B-related liver complications, including liver cancer, and deaths that could be prevented. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated vaccination and screening/testing recommendations for hepatitis B. The updated recommendations remove the need for risk assessment before screening or vaccination. Pharmacists will play a key role in a concerted national effort to implement these updated recommendations. A multistakeholder advisory council convened by the Hepatitis B Foundation identified key barriers to screening and vaccination. The council also formulated strategies to optimize implementation of the updated recommendations. These strategies include educating pharmacists about the new recommendations and how they will help to reduce the burden of hepatitis B and liver cancer. Pharmacists could explore establishing pharmacy-provider collaborative practice agreements and potentially leverage capacity built with COVID-19 vaccine implementation. Hospital systems and other clinic settings could update their electronic health records to include prompts for hepatitis B vaccination and screening. Pharmacy systems can implement different reminder options to help patients complete the hepatitis B vaccine series. To address a lack of vaccine confidence, pharmacists can emphasize the cancer prevention benefit of hepatitis B screening and vaccination and engage with patients on an individual level to understand their concerns, assess vaccine status, and discuss vaccine recommendations. Effective implementation of the new recommendations will help achieve national and global goals of eliminating hepatitis B as a public health threat by 2030.

Peran Kepolisian Dalam Pelaksanaan Vaksinasi Di Kota Padang Sidempuan

This study aims to determine the role of the Indonesian National Police in implementing the Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia Number 10 of 2021 concerning Implementation of Vaccinations in the Context of Mitigating the Covid-19 Pandemic in the City of Padang Sidempuan. This researcher is a field research (Field Research) with a qualitative approach. The primary data sources in this study were the Padang Sidempuan City Police, Padang Sidempuan City Health Office employees, several local residents and secondary data sources were books, laws, articles and several journals. The data collection techniques for this research are observation, interviews and documentation which will then be analyzed using descriptive qualitative analysis techniques. The results of this study indicate that the Police have played an active role in inviting, encouraging and socializing the implementation of vaccinations and increasing public awareness about vaccines so that people are not affected by vaccine issues that are not true. Factors that influence the implementation of vaccinations in the City of Padang sidempuan, namely there are inhibiting factors that the community is still little educated about vaccines and lack of awareness about the importance of health and supporting factors, namely Krepolisian in collaboration with other agencies or institutions such as the Health Service. As for the fiqh siyasa review of the role of the Police in implementing the regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia that the police are officers who carry out the tasks given by the leader, which in fiqh siyasa this leader is called ulil amri and in the fiqh siyasah rules it states that "Tasroful imamu a'larroiyyati manuwtun bil maslahati" which means, the policy of an imam or government must be based on benefit. So, if the role of the police is related to fiqh siyasa, there will be no deviations so that it does not harm the local community in carrying out the vaccination.

Severe COVID-19 Outcomes in Five Latin American Countries in the Postvaccination Era.

We conducted a multicountry retrospective study using data from COVID-19 national surveillance databases to analyze clinical profiles, hospitalization rates, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, utilization of ventilatory support, and mortality rates in five Latin American countries in the context of COVID-19 vaccination implementation. We analyzed the sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, clinical outcomes, and vaccination status of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases from January 2021 to December 2022. We calculated the yearly and quarterly hospitalization rates per 1000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and ICU admissions, use of mechanical ventilators, and mortality rates per 1000 hospitalized cases, with their corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) of 38,852,831 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Rates of hospitalization, ICU admission, ventilatory support, and death were higher among males than among females (38.2 vs. 32.4, 148.4 vs. 117.7, 282.9 vs. 236.2, and 346.9 vs. 320.1 per 1000, respectively); higher in 2021 than in 2022 (50.7 vs. 19.9, 207.8 vs. 58.2, 441.5 vs. 114.9, and 352.5 vs. 285.2 per 1000, respectively); and in the >50 age group (range: 5.7-18.6, 20.1-71.5, 12.2-67.9, and 353.1-577.4, per 1000) than the <50 age group (range: 2.2-9.3, 5.4-33.2, 41.4-135.8, and 22-243.5 per 1000). Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were the most common comorbidities in Mexico and Colombia. Prevention and treatment strategies for these case profiles could bring benefits from a public health perspective.

Assessment of malignant potential for HPV types 16, 52, and 58 in the uterine cervix within a Korean cohort

High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is the primary carcinogen in uterine cervical carcinoma. While genotype-specific carcinogenic risks have been extensively studied in Western populations, data from Korean are sparse. This study evaluates the malignant potential of the three most prevalent HR-HPVs in Korea: HPV16, HPV52, and HPV58. We analyzed 230 patients who underwent cervical conization and had been tested for HPV within a year prior to the procedure, excluding those with multiple infections. This analysis was confined to patients with single HPV infections and assessed outcomes of CIN3+, which includes carcinoma in situ (CIN3) and invasive carcinoma. The incidence of invasive cervical cancer was 6.7% for HPV16, 1.7% for HPV52, and 2.0% for HPV58; however, these differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.187). The rate of CIN3+ for HPV16, HPV52, and HPV58 were 70.6%, 51.7%, and 58.8%, respectively. Despite the small sample size, which may limit the robustness of statistical analysis, the data suggest a higher observed risk with HPV16. These findings highlight the need for vigilant clinical management tailored to specific HPV genotypes and support the implementation of a nine-valent vaccine in Korea. Physicians should be aware of these genotype-specific risks when treating patients.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus among people born before and after implementation of universal vaccination in Argentina

Background Until 2005, when a single dose of vaccine was implemented in one-year-old children, the Hepatitis A virus (HAV) was responsible for approximately 90% of acute hepatitis cases in the paediatric population in Argentina. However, despite vaccination success, sporadic outbreaks of HAV still occur among adults. This study aimed to assess the seroepidemiology of HAV in Argentina, analysing IgG and IgM antibodies against HAV in a large population, both vaccinated and unvaccinated. Methods The study included 16,982 patients attending a hospital from 2001 to 2023. The cohort was divided into two groups: 16,638 individuals who were not reached by the vaccination program implemented in 2005 and 344 children who were covered by the universal vaccination. Results Anti-HAV IgG was detected in 56.7% of cases. The rate was significantly higher in individuals born after 2005 (77.7%) compared to those born before (56.3%), p < 0.001. The age groups 19–40 and 41–60 years showed the anti-HAV IgG lowest rates. On the other hand, 100/3956 cases (2.5%) with suspected acute hepatitis were positive for Anti-HAVIgM. Notably, none of these were born after the mandatory vaccine rollout. Conclusions The study of this large cohort contributes to the understanding of the seroepidemiology of HAV. Although the implementation of the vaccine achieved its main goal, the age segment between 19 and 60 years does not reach the estimated threshold to achieve herd immunity. These findings reveal the importance of targeting vaccination campaigns, provide essential insights for public health planning, and guide future immunisation strategies against HAV in Argentina.