Improve Vaccination Rates Research Articles

Psychological antecedents of vaccine inequity: keys to improve the rates of vaccination

BackgroundThe World Health Organization (WHO) stresses the importance of worldwide vaccine coverage of coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) vaccination. This study fills a critical gap in the literature by providing empirical evidence on the factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and inequity in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This study investigated the determinants of psychological antecedents and other factors behind COVID-19 vaccination and their role in vaccine coverage in MENA.MethodsAn anonymous online cross-sectional survey was conducted in 11 MENA countries (Egypt, Sudan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, Libya, Afghanistan, and Pakistan). The minimum required sample size from each country was 307, which was increased to 330 to accommodate a non-response rate of 7%. A multilevel logistic regression model was used to capture the clustering of observations in each country and estimate the explanatory variables’ effects on each item of the 5C components of the psychological antecedents scale namely (confidence, constraints, complacency, calculation, and collective responsibility).ResultsThe total number of respondents was 3630, 40.5% of them were between the ages of 18 and 25 years, 61.1% were females, 54.0% completed university education, 55.8% were unmarried, 19.5% had chronic diseases, 43.7% reported a previous COVID-19 and 42.4% had relatives who died from COVID-19. Much of the variation in the log of the odds in each item of the 5Cs was due to heterogeneity between different countries (intraclass correlation > 0.05). Therefore, this variability confirms the various effects of psychological antecedents on vaccination coverage, stimulating vaccination inequity among them. Increasing confidence in vaccines and collective responsibility towards relatives and the community is related to increasing acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine. The reduction in complacency, calculations, and constraints was found to be associated with acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine.ConclusionsThis study is novel in shedding light on the importance of psychological determinants as hidden causes of vaccine inequities by using a multilevel logistic regression model for COVID-19 vaccination intention. The findings suggest that targeted interventions addressing socio-demographic factors, psychological antecedents, and accessibility barriers are essential to mitigate vaccine inequity and improve vaccination rates.

Enhancing Vaccine Efficacy and Accessibility through Microneedle Technology: A Review

Microneedling, a minimally invasive technique involving the creation of microchannels in the skin, has emerged as a promising platform for vaccine delivery. The use of microneedles for vaccination represents a new era in immunization techniques, wherein patients no longer dread sharp pricks. Their breakthrough potential lies in their ability to deliver vaccines directly into the epidermis or dermis where a high density of immune cells improve the particularly relevant effects of vaccines. Their intro- duction has met various challenges often experienced with traditional methods like bites caused by fear, pain from needles, or even that any medical doctor may take a long to administer them. Microneedles could improve stability and lessen the dependence on cold chain transport systems since they can be prepared in dry form. In addition to providing an al- ternative to syringes, they are also considered less painful than them. The review highlights the potential of mi- croneedles to improve vaccination rates, especially in un- derserved populations, and identifies key areas for future research and development.

Scoping the barriers to influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations from the perspectives of patients with cancer: is there a role for the pharmacist?

AbstractBackgroundRoutine immunisation for influenza and pneumococcal disease has the potential to reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer.AimThis scoping review aims to determine barriers to influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations from the perspective of patients with cancer and to discuss the potential role of the pharmacist in impacting these barriers.DesignA systematic search of seven databases, including MEDLINE (Ovid), Cochrane Library, Informit (health), PubMed, and CINAHL (complete), from database inception to 6 June 2023 was conducted. Search terms included: 'cancer', 'vaccination', 'influenza', 'pneumococcal', and 'barrier'. Articles published in English that describe barriers to receiving vaccinations from the perspectives of patients with cancers were included. Barriers were thematically analysed.ResultsTwenty‐five articles met the inclusion criteria. Barriers identified in the literature were analysed into three key themes: healthcare professionals, patients, and healthcare system barriers. A key healthcare professional barrier was lack of recommendations from the treating oncologist or haematologist. Patient barriers included lack of information about the indication for vaccination as part of patients' cancer treatment and fear of side effects. Access to vaccination services was reported as a healthcare system barrier.ConclusionThis scoping review highlights the significant barriers to influenza and pneumococcal vaccination according to patients with cancer. Healthcare professionals, patients, and health systems were identified as key barriers. Enablers to improve vaccination rates include patient education, increased healthcare professional vaccine recommendations, and improved access. Although pharmacists have a potential role to play in addressing these barriers, the feasibility and impact of their involvement requires further research.

An integrated approach to enhance vaccine uptake in chronic patients – the VacciNetwork project

Abstract Issue/problem Individuals with chronic illnesses are at a higher risk of infections and their complications. Vaccinations are crucial in reducing this risk and their integration in chronic care pathways can enhance vaccine uptake, but it requires a collaborative approach and increased awareness in care personnel, caregivers and patients. Description of the problem The Local Health Authority of Rome 2 (ASL Roma 2, with approx. 1.3 million residents) initiated an active promotion plan for recommended vaccinations in chronic patients in January 2023, and a Clinical Vaccinology Workbook was produced to guide healthcare workers in promoting vaccinations across various care settings. The plan aims to establish collaborative agreements with hospitals and territorial structures that manage these patients, integrating vaccination plans with clinical and healthcare pathways for a more holistic approach to chronic disease management, a model that could benefit similar populations globally. Results Data was extracted from administrative databases regarding vaccinations performed in 2022 and 2023 on fragile subjects, i.e., those with a marked ‘risk condition’, aged ≥18 years. The results showed that vaccine uptake was more than doubled (6675 vs. 2041; +227%). Notably, vaccinations rose among those with oncological-hematological diseases (+212%), asplenia (+185%), chronic kidney failure or on dialysis (+190%) and those with an HIV infection (+160%). Increases were also significant in other immunocompromised conditions (+194%). Lessons The practice underlines the importance of targeted vaccination programs within chronic care management. Collaborative healthcare frameworks can significantly improve vaccination rates, reducing the burden of infectious diseases in high-risk populations. These results underscore the potential applicability of such a model in other regions and countries, highlighting the universal relevance of integrated healthcare solutions. Key messages • Collaborative, integrated frameworks between clinical and vaccination services can represent a model for increasing vaccine uptake in chronic disease patients. • Strategic partnerships and education in healthcare settings can improve vaccination rates and contribute to more holistic chronic disease management.

Leveraging Social Marketing to Increase Vaccination Rates: A Systematic Review

Abstract Introduction Vaccinations are crucial for protecting individuals from preventable diseases, serving as a cornerstone of public health, safeguarding entire populations. Low vaccination rates can have devastating consequences, leading to outbreaks of preventable diseases. Social marketing has had an increasing role to play in public health. This systematic review seeks to investigate social marketing effectiveness in boosting vaccination adherence. Methods A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane Library, using keywords “social marketing”, ‘campaigns”, “vaccination”, “vaccination uptake”. The search was limited to English-language studies, including studies discussing social marketing campaigns and its impact on vaccination uptake. Prior to inclusion, the studies were evaluated for relevance and applicability to the research question. Included studies were analysed for methodology, sample size, data collection methods, and key findings. Results Of 198 articles identified, 26 studies met inclusion criteria. All studies reported demonstrable improvement in vaccination adherence and hence higher vaccination rates with the use of social marketing campaigns. Targeted messaging on social media allows communication to be tailored to specific demographics and address their unique concerns. Community engagement combats vaccine hesitancy by dismantling misinformation and rebuilding trust. Additionally, these campaigns leverage social influence and mobilise communities to cultivate pro-vaccine attitudes. By addressing personal choice, knowledge gaps, and hesitancy, social marketing paves the way for greater vaccination uptake. Conclusions Social marketing has been proven to be an effective tool in promoting vaccination adherence in public health. As vaccination remains a critical aspect of public health, the continued use of social marketing interventions is essential for improving vaccination rates and ultimately enhancing overall population health. Key messages • Social marketing campaigns lead to higher vaccination rates across various populations. • By addressing vaccine hesitancy, social marketing paves the way for increased vaccination uptake.

The potential role of perceived neighborhood social cohesion on COVID-19 vaccination uptake among individuals aged 50 and older: Results from the Korean Community Health Survey.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical importance of vaccination in controlling infectious diseases. While previous research has identified social cohesion as a potential facilitator of health behaviors, empirical studies exploring its direct impact on COVID-19 vaccination rates, especially across different age groups, remain limited. This cross-sectional study utilized data from the 2021 Korean Community Health Survey, a nationally representative survey conducted in South Korea. The analysis focused on adults aged 50 and older, categorizing them into two age groups (50-64 and ≥65). We investigated the association between perceived neighborhood social cohesion and COVID-19 vaccination status, controlling for socio-economic status, health behaviors, and concerns related to COVID-19. Statistical analysis was conducted using complex sample multiple logistic regression to adjust for potential confounders. The study included 135,352 participants, with an analysis showing that in the age group ≥65, higher levels of perceived neighborhood social cohesion were significantly associated with increased vaccination uptake (aOR for trust between neighbors: 1.200, 95% CI: 1.058-1.362; aOR for mutual assistance among neighbors: 1.491, 95% CI: 1.312-1.695). Interestingly, these associations were not significant in the 50-64 age group. Additionally, satisfaction with healthcare services was associated with higher vaccination uptake in both age groups (aOR: 1.106, 95% CI: 1.004-1.219 for 50-64; aOR: 1.306, 95% CI: 1.160-1.471 for ≥65). Our findings suggest that perceived neighborhood social cohesion plays a crucial role in influencing COVID-19 vaccination uptake among older adults, particularly those aged 65 and above. These results indicate that health policies aimed at enhancing social cohesion may effectively improve vaccination rates, especially among the elderly. Future research should explore the impact of social cohesion on other age groups and assess the causal relationships in longitudinal studies.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Parents to Childhood Immunization: A Cross-Sectional Study in Gandaki Province of Nepal

Introduction: Childhood immunization is one of the most cost effective public health interventions to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases and improve child survival. In Nepal, the national immunization program aims to ensure that all children receive the recommended vaccines, yet challenges remain in achieving universal coverage. The Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) of parents towards immunization play a critical role in vaccine uptake. This study was designed to assess their understanding, attitudes, and behaviors toward vaccinating their children. Methods: A prospective observational cross-sectional study was conducted from April 22, 2023, to October 2023 GP Koirala National Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Hospital, Tanahun, Gandaki Nepal, involving 227 parents of children under 18 months. The participants were selected through purposive sampling from Pediatric OPD of this hospital. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data about their knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding childhood immunization. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 23 with descriptive statistics, with results expressed as frequencies and percentages and Chi-square tests employed to identify associations between demographic variables and KAP levels. Results: The study revealed that 73.6% of parents had good knowledge about childhood immunization, recognizing the importance of vaccines and being aware of the vaccination schedule. However, only 64.3% of parents demonstrated a favorable attitude toward immunization, reflecting mixed perceptions about the necessity of vaccines and their safety. Additionally, 60.3% of parents exhibited good practices, indicating that while a majority ensured their children received vaccines, there were still gaps in adherence to the full immunization schedule. Demographic factor such as education level significantly influenced KAP scores. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for continuous efforts to enhance parental knowledge, improve attitudes, and reinforce good practices regarding childhood immunization in Nepal. Although the majority of parents showed a reasonable understanding of vaccines, the discrepancies in attitudes and practices suggest that targeted interventions, including education and outreach, are necessary to improve vaccination rates. Addressing these gaps is crucial to ensuring complete immunization coverage and safeguarding children from preventable diseases. Keywords: Childhood immunization, parental knowledge, vaccination practices, public health, vaccine uptake.

Factors Associated With Repeat Pediatric Influenza Vaccination Among Inconsistent Vaccinators.

Promoting consistent vaccination practices may help improve suboptimal influenza vaccination rates. This study evaluated the prevalence and correlates of repeat influenza (flu) vaccination among children who had previously received the vaccine inconsistently. An online survey study was conducted in 2022 among parents of commercially insured children ages 3 to 19 years who were previously inconsistently vaccinated. Of 317 respondents, 85% reported that their child received a flu vaccine in the 2021 to 2022 flu season. Among these parents, 61% reported concern that their child would get sick from flu as the most important reason for vaccinating. Repeat vaccination was less likely among parents who reported that school/daycare requirements were a reason for vaccinating in the prior season (odd ratio [OR] = 0.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.05-0.55). Our findings suggest that school policies may improve vaccination rates among inconsistent vaccinators.

The individual and ecological characteristics of parental COVID-19 vaccination decisions

Vaccination is a highly effective method to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and mitigate severe disease. In Germany, adult vaccination rates are relatively high at 85.5%, but rates are significantly lower for adolescents (69.6%) and children (20.0%). This discrepancy indicates that not all vaccinated parents choose to vaccinate their children. Analyzing data from a January 2022 online survey of 1,819 parents with children and adolescents, we explore the socio-economic factors influencing parents’ willingness to vaccinate themselves and their children. Our results show that individuals who vote for either side of the political extremes are less likely to vaccinate their children. This pattern is particularly strong for voters on the far right. In addition, we find that better educated parents are more likely to vaccinate both themselves and their children. Parents who vaccinate both themselves and their children demonstrate greater confidence in the vaccine’s effectiveness, while those who vaccinate only themselves are often motivated by a desire to regain personal freedoms. These insights highlight the need for targeted public health strategies to address specific concerns and improve vaccination rates among children and adolescents.

Identifying and supporting vaccine champions in pediatric primary care: a qualitative interview study.

Implementation science research identifies clinical champions as instrumental in aligning healthcare professionals' (HCPs) behavior with practice guidelines for delivering health services, including vaccinations. However, we know relatively little about identifying or supporting champions. To characterize who vaccine champions are, what they do, and how to support their work in pediatric primary care. In 2022, we interviewed a purposive sample of peer-nominated or self-identified vaccine champions (n=20) and HCPs who worked with vaccine champions (n=4). We thematically analyzed qualitative data. Vaccine champions' defining characteristics were firsthand primary care experience, whether as providers or nursing staff, and a strong belief in vaccinations as uniquely effective tools for primary prevention. Participants noted these beliefs were "part of the DNA" of specialties like pediatrics and infectious disease, where they perceived champions as especially common. Being "insatiable in their quest for knowledge," champions primarily conceptualized their role as understanding and sharing complex information and performance metric data related to vaccine administration. Champions' role in leading other implementation strategies, such as communication training, was more peripheral. Champions reported that dedicated time and staff support helped them "go above and beyond" to improve vaccination rates. Our findings suggest that vaccine champions can be found among providers and nursing staff with deep clinical experience and commitment to primary prevention through vaccination, including through providing vaccine education to colleagues. Healthcare systems can allocate resources to support champions as educators, while exploring opportunities to extend their role in other implementation strategies to improve vaccination rates.

Reflections on the positioning and implementation pathways of adult vaccine prescriptions

The innovation of integrating medical treatment and prevention mechanisms is a key task deployed by the government, aiming to promote the construction of a Healthy China and address the prevalent "treatment over prevention" mindset in healthcare services and society. Vaccination is an effective strategy for preventing and controlling infectious diseases; however, adult vaccination rates in China remain low due to insufficient awareness and enthusiasm among the public and healthcare professionals. In recent years, various regions have begun to explore the model of physicians in medical institutions prescribing vaccines to improve vaccination rates. This article analyzes the positioning, current implementation status, and challenges of vaccine prescriptions, and proposes recommendations advocating policy formulation, improving service models and supporting measures, improving funding mechanisms, and strengthening publicity and education to promote the widespread implementation and effectiveness of vaccine prescriptions.

Classification of an Individual's Vaccination Status Using Ensemble Hard Voting Classifier

Vaccination is a proactive medical immunization procedure where an inactivated form of a disease-causing agent (such as a virus) is administered to boost the body's defense systems. Efficient management of vaccination status is crucial in healthcare management, disease eradication, community immunity ("herd immunity"), disease prevention, and global health security. Ensuring precise monitoring and validation of an individual's vaccination status is indispensable, especially in the context of emerging diseases and epidemics. This study evaluates the likelihood of individuals obtaining vaccination for the H1N1 virus and the seasonal flu vaccine. Ensemble methods combine the predictions of multiple base classifiers to enhance overall performance. One such method, the hard voting classifier, aggregates the votes from each base classifier and selects the class with the majority vote as the final prediction. This approach leverages the strengths of different classifiers, reducing the risk of individual model biases and improving generalization using metrics such as precision, recall, accuracy, and F1-score are employed to assess the system's effectiveness. The results demonstrate how data-driven methods can address population wellness and improve vaccination rates using an ensemble method. The proposed ensemble hard voting classifier achieved accuracies of 0.905 and 0.907 on the H1N1 and seasonal vaccine datasets, respectively. Using an ensemble approach like the hard voting classifier enhances prediction accuracy and robustness, ultimately leading to better decision making in public health initiatives.

Nurses’ Knowledge and Practices on Influenza Vaccination for Pregnant Women

Influenza poses significant health risks to pregnant women, leading to increased morbidity and mortality rates compared to the general population. Despite the proven efficacy of the influenza vaccine in mitigating these risks, vaccination rates among pregnant women remain suboptimal. This study examines nurses' knowledge and attitudes regarding influenza vaccination for pregnant women within the AL-Zubair primary health sector in Basrah, Iraq, addressing the gap in understanding healthcare providers' roles in promoting vaccination. Prior research has highlighted the need for enhanced education and communication strategies among healthcare workers to improve vaccination uptake, yet specific data on nurses' knowledge in this context are limited. The study aims to assess nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding influenza vaccination for pregnant women. Among the 88 surveyed nurses, a majority demonstrated adequate knowledge and favorable attitudes towards vaccination, with significant gaps in awareness regarding the consequences of influenza for newborns. Notably, 51.1% acknowledged the vaccine's utility in protecting pregnant women. This research provides crucial insights into the educational needs of nurses, which are essential for fostering effective patient education strategies. The findings underscore the importance of targeted educational interventions to enhance nurses' understanding of influenza vaccination, ultimately aiming to improve vaccination rates among pregnant women and reduce associated health risks.

A guide to global access to HPV vaccination to all women in low- and middle-income countries; a minireview of innovation and equity.

Cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus (HV), and accounts for more than 311,000 preventable deaths annually, with 85% occurring in low-and middle-income countries. Despite being preventable through screening and screening, significant barriers to implementing HPV vaccination persist in developing nations. This review study aims to identify these barriers and propose innovative, evidence-based solutions to improve vaccination rates and reduce cervical cancer mortality. A systematic review search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews. Keywords related to HPV vaccination barriers and implementation strategies in developing countries were used. Relevant demonstration projects, pilot studies, and evidence-based research articles were reviewed. Identifiable barriers to a successful vaccine implementation program in a developing country include vaccine costs, societal, cultural resistance, misinformation, logistical challenges in vaccine delivery, and inadequate human resources. Solutions to these barriers include a subsidized vaccine pricing, community sensitization, education and well-trained media professionals to dispel misinformation, and partnerships with both public and private sector for efficient vaccine distribution. These findings highlight critical barriers that impede HPV vaccination efforts in developing countries and offers practical solutions to overcome these challenges. This aggregate of data can help inform future developing countries' implementation programs to further the World Health Assembly mission to vaccinate 90% of eligible girls globally by 2030.

Optimizing influenza vaccination among oncology patients through quality improvement cycles.

285 Background: Influenza poses significant risks to cancer patients, who are especially vulnerable due to immunosuppression caused by both their disease and treatment. (Cooksley et al., 2005) Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Jefferson Health (SKCC)’s Quality Improvement (QI) initiative aimed to increase influenza vaccination rates among adult cancer patients in our Center City clinic from October 2023 to March 2024. At baseline in the 2022-2023 flu season, 49% of our patients had a documented vaccination against influenza, leaving most of our patient population at increased risk for influenza infection. Methods: A series of four Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles were implemented over the course of the vaccination season. Cycle 1 collected baseline data on vaccination status via electronic health records (EHRs) and identified gaps in patient knowledge and vaccine hesitancy. Cycle 2 trained medical assistants (MAs) to engage in effective vaccination conversations, emphasizing the use of presumptive communication techniques and the reconciliation of immunization records in EHRs. Cycle 3 integrated patient education materials on vaccination in the clinical encounter. Cycle 4 scaled assessment protocols across teams. Results: Cumulatively, 68% (2,592/3,824) of unique oncology patients had a documented influenza vaccination by the completion of the season in March 2024. Integration of vaccine reconciliation into the MA workflow was the iteration that led to the biggest increase in vaccination rate among the PDSA cycles tested. We surpassed our initial aim for the season (59%) in this metric. Conclusions: The QI project at SKCC demonstrates that layered strategies involving both patients and care teams can improve vaccination rates among adult cancer patients. Integration of vaccine assessment into clinic workflows was an effective tactic. Future efforts will focus on replicating these successes with other vaccines. Rates of influenza vaccination by PDSA cycle. Cycle # Date Cycle Description Outcome Metric: Cumulative Vaccination Rate (%) 1 Oct 2023 Provider perception survey of vaccination knowledge 65 2 Nov 2023 Integration of vaccine reconciliation in MA workflow 69 3 Dec 2023 Integration of patient education materials to clinical encounter 70 4 Jan 2024 – Mar 2024 Scaling of updated workflows to entire clinic 68

Optimizing Protection Against HPV-Related Cancer: Unveiling the Benefits and Overcoming Challenges of HPV Vaccination.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is an underutilized tool in cancer prevention. HPV vaccine completion rates in adolescents age 13 to 15 years remain low at 59%. The HPV vaccine can prevent more than 90% of cases of cancer caused by HPV, including cervical, oropharyngeal, anal, penile, vulvar, and vaginal. HPV vaccine is very safe and effective, as demonstrated by numerous large-scale studies. Practice-based strategies can improve vaccination rates, such as having providers give a strong presumptive recommendation for the vaccine, using motivational interviewing for hesitant families, and using electronic health record reminders to prompt providers to offer it, among other interventions. Offering HPV vaccine starting at age 9 years is another evidence-based strategy to improve HPV vaccine completion rates, which has been shown to be acceptable to both providers and parents. [Pediatr Ann. 2024;53(10):e372-e377.].

The Effectiveness of Interventions Targeting Adolescents in HPV Vaccination-A Scoping Review.

Adolescents are the target group for HPV vaccination. Studies that examine factors influencing acceptability among adolescents and interventions aimed at improving knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, intentions, and, most importantly, vaccination rates are less common than those addressing parents or healthcare professionals. The specialized literature was searched for studies evaluating the impact of various interventions on adolescents. In the final analysis, 41 studies were included (35 original studies and 6 reviews). Educational interventions increased adolescents' knowledge scores in the selected studies. Peer education proved highly effective in rapidly and significantly improving knowledge about HPV. Additionally, multicomponent interventions generated awareness and knowledge that persisted for months after the interventions. HPV vaccine uptake increased following educational interventions in 11 out of the 14 studies that evaluated this outcome; studies presenting multicomponent interventions also proved effective in improving vaccination rates. Higher HPV vaccine series completion was reported following a reminder system strategy. Interventions directed at adolescents, combined with strategies involving parents and healthcare professionals, can play an important role in improving HPV vaccination rates. Educated adolescents must be involved in decisions about their own health and can be a valuable source of information for their peers and parents.

Navigating the Evolving Landscape of COVID-19: Strategies to Increase Vaccine Confidence and Improve Vaccination Rates in the United States.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on every individual in the United States. The launch of the COVID-19 vaccines is estimated to have averted millions of deaths and reduced over 18 million COVID-19-related hospitalizations. In September 2023, the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine, which includes a monovalent component that corresponds to the omicron variant XBB.1.5, reflecting the predominant circulating variant at the time of strain selection, was approved and was recommended for use in all people ≥ 6 months of age. Despite this recommendation, the US uptake of the updated COVID-19 vaccines over the 2023-2024 season has been far from optimal, placing many people at unnecessary risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes. This paper provides an overview of the current state of COVID-19 in 2023-2024 and barriers to vaccine uptake. With the continued evolution of the virus, the potential for more virulent variants, reduced public acceptance of vaccination, and the potential barriers that contributed to low vaccine uptake are explored to provide solutions for improving COVID-19 protection for future seasons.

Digital Gamification Tool (Let's Control Flu) to Increase Vaccination Coverage Rates: Proposal for Algorithm Development.

Influenza represents a critical public health challenge, disproportionately affecting at-risk populations, including older adults and those with chronic conditions, often compounded by socioeconomic factors. Innovative strategies, such as gamification, are essential for augmenting risk communication and community engagement efforts to address this threat. This study aims to introduce the "Let's Control Flu" (LCF) tool, a gamified, interactive platform aimed at simulating the impact of various public health policies (PHPs) on influenza vaccination coverage rates and health outcomes. The tool aligns with the World Health Organization's goal of achieving a 75% influenza vaccination rate by 2030, facilitating strategic decision-making to enhance vaccination uptake. The LCF tool integrates a selection of 13 PHPs from an initial set proposed in another study, targeting specific population groups to evaluate 7 key health outcomes. A prioritization mechanism accounts for societal resistance and the synergistic effects of PHPs, projecting the potential policy impacts from 2022 to 2031. This methodology enables users to assess how PHPs could influence public health strategies within distinct target groups. The LCF project began in February 2021 and is scheduled to end in December 2024. The model creation phase and its application to the pilot country, Sweden, took place between May 2021 and May 2023, with subsequent application to other European countries. The pilot phase demonstrated the tool's potential, indicating a promising increase in the national influenza vaccination coverage rate, with uniform improvements across all targeted demographic groups. These initial findings highlight the tool's capacity to model the effects of PHPs on improving vaccination rates and mitigating the health impact of influenza. By incorporating gamification into the analysis of PHPs, the LCF tool offers an innovative and accessible approach to supporting health decision makers and patient advocacy groups. It enhances the comprehension of policy impacts, promoting more effective influenza prevention and control strategies. This paper underscores the critical need for adaptable and engaging tools in PHP planning and implementation. RR1-10.2196/55613.

Understanding herpes zoster vaccine hesitancy and information asymmetry: a qualitative study in China.

Herpes zoster is more prevalent among the older adult due to the age-related immune decline, leading to significant pain and complications. Although vaccination effectively prevents viral infections, vaccine hesitancy remains a major barrier to achieving high vaccination rates.To address this, we conducted a qualitative survey using Vaccine Hesitancy Determinants Matrix and 5C model to understand and improve vaccination rates in this group. Descriptive qualitative research design based on the philosophical underpinnings of naturalistic inquiry and purposive sampling methodology was conducted on adults aged 50 and above, as well as community health workers. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth personal interviews. The interview outline was constructed following a comprehensive review of the literature and consideration of the theoretical framework. Seventeen adults over 50 years and four community healthcare workers were included in this study. The study found that information asymmetry in immunization planning was evident at all stages of vaccine supply, dissemination and demand. The main manifestations included limited access to authoritative information, insufficient community awareness of herpes zoster as a route of vaccination, insufficient vocational training, significant gaps in vaccine knowledge, and high levels of complacency among individual residents. Herpes zoster vaccine hesitancy is prevalent among middle-aged and older adults in China due to information asymmetry, vaccine complacency, inadequate community services, and other multiple layers of factors. Public health strategies should aim to reduce cognitive biases and information gaps by disseminating diverse and credible vaccine information through social media, medical institutions, and offline channels to promote higher vaccination rates.