Success Of Vaccination Programs Research Articles

Syringe Service Program Perspectives on Barriers, Readiness, and Programmatic Needs to Support Rollout of the COVID-19 Vaccine.

We explored syringe service program (SSP) perspectives on barriers, readiness, and programmatic needs to support coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine uptake among people who use drugs. We conducted an exploratory qualitative study, leveraging an existing sample of SSPs in the United States. Semistructured, in-depth interviews were conducted with SSP staff between February and April 2021. Interviews were analyzed using a Rapid Assessment Process, an intensive, iterative process that allows for rapid analysis of time-sensitive qualitative data. Twenty-seven SSPs completed a qualitative interview. Many SSP respondents discussed that COVID-19 vaccination was not a priority for their participants because of competing survival priorities, and respondents shared concerns that COVID-19 had deepened participant mistrust of health care. Most SSPs wanted to participate in COVID-19 vaccination efforts; however, they identified needed resources, including adequate space, personnel, and training, to implement successful vaccine programs. Although SSPs are trusted resources for people who use drugs, many require additional structural and personnel support to address barriers to COVID-19 vaccination among their participants. Funding and supporting SSPs in the provision of COVID-19 prevention education and direct vaccine services should be a top public health priority.

Implementation of a Military Emergency Department Influenza Vaccination Program: Lessons from Failure.

ABSTRACTIntroductionInfluenza infection in the United States results in hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and 12,000 to 60,000 yearly deaths. Influenza season sees a sharp increase in emergency department (ED) patients nationwide, as primary care offices become overwhelmed. Because the ED is unique in its reach of underserved communities, ED vaccination programs can help maximize the number of people protected by vaccination. Influenza vaccination is one of the only vaccines that occurs yearly; therefore, successes with ED distribution of the influenza vaccine can potentially be translated into efforts of vaccinating the U.S. population more efficiently against other viral illnesses, such COVID-19. There has also not been a previous description in the literature of a vaccination program being used in a military setting. The original purpose of this study was to measure the effect of an ED vaccination program on our vaccine penetration and ED length of stay as well as to analyze the impact of provider education on vaccine uptake on vaccine refusal.MethodsThis was an observational, quality improvement project in the Wright-Patterson Medical Center Emergency Department evaluating an influenza vaccination program set to last from October 1, 2020 to April 1, 2021. Patients were to be surveyed to assess prior vaccination status, identify those at high risk for influenza complications, and to measure the effects of point-of-care education on vaccine acceptance. Separate measurements included average ED length of stay and the study’s impact on how quickly the base population could be vaccinated.ResultsThe effort was determined no longer feasible on November 20, 2020 because of the significant barriers. Although no data were gathered, we were able to glean important information that is vital in future efforts to implement ED-based vaccination programs. Reasons for program failure were multi-factorial, but were mainly attributed to rapid implementation, issues with Pyxis ordering and vaccine shipments, and vaccine storage capacity. The program also lacked a multidisciplinary implementation team of nurses and technicians, which could have better anticipated critical barriers.ConclusionInfluenza has caused multiple worldwide pandemics, contributed to countless deaths, and continues to be a challenge. ED-based influenza vaccination programs have been trialed to augment the primary care system in their effort to prevent deaths from influenza. The literature has shown that these programs are cost-effective and efficacious, but significant barriers have stunted their widespread utilization. Examining the rapid implementation and failure of this program highlights the importance of implementation models, process and barrier mapping, and proper operationalization. It is also the first such program that has been trialed in a military treatment facility. In consideration of the recent pandemic, successful ED-based vaccination programs can also offer a model for additional dissemination of other vaccines, such as the COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and patient self-advocacy: a statistical analysis of those who can and can’t get vaccinated

BackgroundThis study applies the Patient Self-Advocacy scale to investigate vaccine hesitancy in New Zealand. Due to New Zealand’s very limited tertiary hospital system and vulnerable populations, the Government’s strategy to address COVID-19 has been to prevent the virus from entering the nation and to eliminate it when it does cross the border. Therefore, there is no opportunity for the nation to generate any acquired immunity through exposure. To transition from closed borders, New Zealand will need to run a highly successful national vaccination programme and this needs to have the ability to drive influential public health messaging to the targeted places within the communities where vaccine hesitancy most exists.MethodsThis study employed statistical methods. A nationally representative survey of adults in New Zealand (n = 1852) was collected via Qualtrics. Independent samples t-tests, and multiple regression were used to explore the research questions.ResultsThose who identify as medically able to be vaccinated expressed significantly higher confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine than those who identified as unable to be vaccinated. Patient-self advocacy had a positive effect on vaccine confidence. Individuals who identify as able to be vaccinated have less hesitancy. Demographics had various effects on vaccine hesitancy.ConclusionThe research highlights particularly important insights into vaccine hesitancy related to patient self-advocacy behaviours, and various demographic variables such as political affiliation. In addition, the research adds further clarity on how and why New Zealanders have responded to the COVID-vaccine. Finally, the importance of vaccine literacy is discussed.

Molecular Diversity and Histopathological Findings of Novel Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Strains Isolated from Bull Semen

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is one of the most common viral pathogens affecting the cattle industry worldwide. The present study aimed to molecularly characterize BVDV isolates that are currently circulating in breeding bulls farmed with cattle suffering from reproductive disorders, and also to assess the consequences of BVDV infection on bulls’ semen quality and conception, and its pathological effects on the structure of testicular tissue and spermatozoa. For this purpose, semen, serum, and testicular samples were collected from four breeding bulls in four private dairy farms in the governorates of Kafr-El Sheik, Beni-Suef, Giza, and Assuit, in Egypt from April 2019 to May 2020. An evaluation of sperm abnormalities was carried out by assessing the integrity of the plasma and acrosomal membranes where severe damage and abnormalities were found. Ultrastructure analysis of the spermatozoa by transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of a swollen plasma membrane with segmented outer acrosomal membrane of spermatozoa and vacuolar degenerated mitochondria. Histopathological examination of testicular and epididymal tissues indicated moderate to severe degenerative effects of virus infection on seminiferous tubules with hypospermatogenesis. By detection of virus antigen in the serum samples using ELISA, bulls were identified as persistently infected with BVDV. Virus isolation revealed four noncytopathic (NCP-BVDV) strains that were confirmed by fluorescent antibody technique (FAT) and amplification of the 5′ untranslated genomic region (5’UTR) and molecularly typed by amplification of the Erns glycoprotein region. Isolates’ Phylogenetic analysis revealed two subgenotypes: BVDV-1b (Genbank accession numbers; LC634512, LC634513, LC634515) and BVDV-1d (LC634516). According to the knowledge of the authors of the present study, the circulation of the BVDV-1d subgenotype is not reported in Egypt. Therefore, it would be of great importance to track circulating strains in specific countries for successful vaccination programs or accurate diagnostic tests, and this necessitates regular updates.

Immunization and SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Seroprevalence in a Country with High Vaccination Coverage: Lessons from Chile.

Chile is among the most successful nations worldwide in terms of its COVID-19 vaccine rollout. By 31 December 2021, 84.1% of the population was fully vaccinated, and 56.1% received booster doses using different COVID-19 vaccines. In this context, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies following the infection and vaccination campaign. Using a three-stage stratified sampling, we performed a population-based cross-sectional serosurvey based on a representative sample of three Chilean cities. Selected participants were blood-sampled on-site and answered a short COVID-19 and vaccination history questionnaire using Wantai SARS-CoV-2 Ab ELISA to determine seroprevalence. We recruited 2198 individuals aged 7–93 between 5 October and 25 November 2021; 2132 individuals received COVID-19 vaccinations (97%), 67 (3.1%) received one dose, 2065 (93.9%) received two doses, and 936 received the booster jab (42.6%). Antibody seroprevalence reached 97.3%, ranging from 40.9% among those not vaccinated to 99.8% in those with booster doses (OR = 674.6, 154.8–2938.5). SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were associated with vaccination, previous COVID-19 diagnosis, age group, and city of residence. In contrast, we found no significant differences in the type of vaccine used, education, nationality, or type of health insurance. We found a seroprevalence close to 100%, primarily due to the successful vaccination program, which strongly emphasizes universal access.

Leveraging a national biorepository in Zambia to assess measles and rubella immunity gaps across age and space

High-quality, representative serological surveys allow direct estimates of immunity profiles to inform vaccination strategies but can be costly and logistically challenging. Leveraging residual serum samples is one way to increase their feasibility. We subsampled 9854 residual sera from a 2016 national HIV survey in Zambia and tested these specimens for anti-measles and anti-rubella virus IgG antibodies using indirect enzyme immunoassays. We demonstrate innovative methods for sampling residual sera and analyzing seroprevalence data, as well as the value of seroprevalence estimates to understand and control measles and rubella. National measles and rubella seroprevalence for individuals younger than 50 years was 82.8% (95% CI 81.6, 83.9%) and 74.9% (95% CI 73.7, 76.0%), respectively. Despite a successful childhood vaccination program, measles immunity gaps persisted across age groups and districts, indicating the need for additional activities to complement routine immunization. Prior to vaccine introduction, we estimated a rubella burden of 96 congenital rubella syndrome cases per 100,000 live births. Residual samples from large-scale surveys can reduce the cost and challenges of conducting serosurveys, and multiple pathogens can be tested. Procedures to access quality specimens, ensure ethical approvals, and link sociodemographic data can improve the timeliness and value of results.

Assessment of attitude towards COVID-19 vaccine and associated factors among clinical practitioners in Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study.

BackgroundClinical practitioners are influential figures in the public’s health-seeking behavior. Therefore, understanding their attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine is critical for implementing successful vaccination programs. Our study aimed to investigate clinical practitioners’ acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine and associated factors for evidence-based interventions.MethodsData from 461 clinical practitioners were collected using a cross-sectional design via an online self-administered survey. Descriptive and multiple logistic regression analyses and chi-square tests were conducted using R version 3.6.1.ResultsThe COVID-19 vaccine was accepted by 84.4 percent of those polled, and 86.1 percent said they would recommend it to others. Individuals with advanced levels of education demonstrated greater readiness for vaccine acceptance (P<0.001) and willingness to recommend (P<0.001). On the other hand, practitioners with concerns about the safety of vaccines developed in emergency settings were less likely to accept vaccines (OR = 0.22). Practitioners influenced by social media posts (OR = 0.91) and religious beliefs (OR = 0.71) were found to be less willing to recommend the vaccine.ConclusionThe study demonstrated that interventions to improve clinical practitioners’ acceptance and recommendation of the COVID-19 vaccine should consider the following factors: level of experience and education, religious beliefs, safety concerns, specific profession, and source of information. Vaccine literacy efforts that directly address specific concerns and misconceptions, such as those that reconcile social media information and religious beliefs with scientific literature, are recommended.

COVID-19 Vaccine Misperceptions in a Community Sample of Adults Aged 18-49 Years in Australia.

Central to a successful population vaccination program is high uptake of vaccines. However, COVID-19 vaccine uptake may be impeded by beliefs based on misinformation. We sought to understand the prevalence and nature of misbeliefs about COVID-19 vaccines, and identify associated factors, shortly after commencement of Australia’s national vaccine rollout. A cross-sectional survey was administered to unvaccinated young adults (n = 2050) in Australia aged 18–49 years (mean age 33 years), 13 July–21 August 2021. This sample was previously under-represented in COVID-19 research but shown to have less willingness to vaccinate. Two thirds of participants agreed with at least one misbelief item. Misperceptions about COVID-19 vaccines were found to be significantly associated with lower health literacy, less knowledge about vaccines, lower perceived personal risk of COVID-19, greater endorsement of conspiracy beliefs, and lower confidence and trust in government and scientific institutions. Misbeliefs were more common in participants with less educational attainment, in younger age groups, and in males, as per previous research. Understanding determinants and barriers to vaccination uptake, such as knowledge and beliefs based on misinformation, can help to shape effective public health communication and inform debunking efforts at this critical time and in the future.

Multisite Integrated Health System Utilizes Proactive Community Strategies to Address Vaccine Hesitancy and Create Positive Change

Vaccine hesitancy remains a barrier to successful COVID-19 vaccination programs across all populations. Attempts to mitigate this barrier, including mandates, have not been successful, especially in communities of color where the vaccination rates remain low. Nursing leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion officers, and C-suite executives of 1 health system collaborated to address vaccine hesitancy through various community conversations with health care workers, non-direct caregivers, nursing students, and all populations across 4 state counties. The efforts of the health system were to improve trust in the health care system by presenting transparent dialogue with opportunities for interactive questions through presentations by health care professionals.

COVID-19: Finally on Wane, with Reduced Lethality.

As most of the countries have already passed the peaks of the second or third wave of infections, COVID-19 is (finally) on the wane and will soon touch the baseline persistence with a reduced death rate. The Case Fatality Ratio (CFR) or lethality is presently only ~2.0%, which is relatively low in comparison to the high of 14% in April 2020. More importantly, the lethality in healthy people is 20 times lower. In addition, successful vaccination programs are currently underway in several countries. Thus, although new pathogenic variants as well as a few isolated cases of resurgence, will continue to emerge, the worst seems to be over and we will surely win this battle soon.

A Study to Access the Prevalence and Drivers of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Indian Population Including Health Care Professional and Dental Students – A Cross-Sectional Survey

Background: The acceptance and availability of effective vaccines are crucial for the success of vaccination programs. Medical doctors and students are the epitome of shaping the public interest in vaccines. Aim: To evaluate the general public's attitudes, including dental students and health care professionals, at the national level towards COVID-19 vaccines and explore the potential drivers for students' acceptance levels. Methods: A national-level cross-sectional study was carried out in May-June 2021 using an online questionnaire. The sample was categorized based on age, gender, academic level, and location. The dependent variable was the willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine. The independent variables included demographic characteristics, COVID-19-related experience, and the drivers of the COVID-19 vaccine-related attitude suggested by the WHO SAGE. Results: The number of people who answered the questionnaire was 1271. The males accounted for 38.9%, and females were 61.1%. The age group, 18-45 years with 14.7%, has the highest percentage of people who have not taken vaccination. In context to gender, 13.5% of males and 13.1% of females have not taken vaccination. The percentage of vaccination hesitancy is highest in rural areas with 19.5%. The health care professionals were vaccinated with the highest percentage of 89.8%. Conclusion: The vaccination acceptance level of the population for COVID-19 vaccines was good, approximately 63%, and their worrisome level of vaccine hesitancy 27% was governed by demographic, social, and economic factors. The media and social media, public figures, insufficient knowledge about vaccines, and mistrust of governments and the pharmaceutical industry were major hurdles to vaccination.

Vaccine hesitancy and HPV vaccine uptake among male and female youth in Switzerland: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesIdentifying factors associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake is essential for designing successful vaccination programmes. We aimed to examine the association between vaccine hesitancy (VH) and HPV vaccine uptake...

Characteristics of the Third COVID-19 Pandemic Wave with Special Focus on Socioeconomic Inequalities in Morbidity, Mortality and the Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccination in Hungary.

Governments are increasingly looking to vaccination to provide a path out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hungary offers an example to investigate whether social inequalities compromise what a successful vaccine program can achieve. COVID-19 morbidity, mortality, and vaccination coverage were characterized by calculation of indirectly standardized ratios in the Hungarian population during the third pandemic wave at the level of municipalities, classified into deprivation quintiles. Then, their association with socioeconomic deprivation was assessed using ecological regression. Compared to the national average, people living in the most deprived municipalities had a 15–24% lower relative incidence of confirmed COVID-19 cases, but a 17–37% higher relative mortality and a 38% lower vaccination coverage. At an ecological level, COVID-19 mortality showed a strong positive association with deprivation and an inverse association with vaccination coverage (RRVaccination = 0.86 (0.75–0.98)), but the latter became non-significant after adjustment for deprivation (RRVaccination = 0.95 (0.84–1.09), RRDeprivation = 1.10 (1.07–1.14)). Even what is widely viewed as one of the more successful vaccine roll outs was unable to close the gap in COVID-19 mortality during the third pandemic wave in Hungary. This is likely to be due to the challenges of reaching those living in the most deprived municipalities who experienced the highest mortality rates during the third wave.

EP411: Tackling the COVID-19 pandemic by utilizing next generation sequencing technologies

The COVID-19 outbreak caused by SARS-CoV-2 has led to major socio-economic disruption worldwide and the pandemic has yet to secede after more than 18 months. As of November 2021, SARS-CoV-2 has infected over 251 million people and caused over 5 million deaths worldwide. The discovery of aggressive variants of the virus has shown that monitoring for variants associated with changes to infection outcome and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is critical to ensure the success of vaccination programs and establish robust public health responses.

Factors Associated with Community Awareness on COVID-19 in a Developing Country: Implications for Optimal Risk Communication.

PurposeNew COVID-19 variants pose great challenges in protecting the success of vaccination programs. Awareness of community becomes an important component to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This study aims to analyze people’s awareness of COVID-19 and identify the implications for optimal risk communication in Vietnam.Study Methods and MaterialsA total of 341 individuals participated in an online cross-sectional study. Community awareness on COVID-19 was examined by using a structured questionnaire. Multivariable Tobit regression was used to examine associated factors with community awareness.ResultsOur results indicated high levels of awareness of local COVID-19 situation, transmission risks, and preventive behavioral practices during the first week of social isolation. Higher awareness of local pandemic situation was associated with female respondents (Coef.: 6.19; 95% CI: 0.51; 11.87) and larger family sizes of above 5 people (Coef.: 9.00; −1.00; 19.00). Respondents between 35–44 years old were shown to be less aware of preventive behavioral practices than other age groups, including the group of participants above 44 years old (Coef.: −0.34; 95% CI: −0.67; −0.02). Lastly, participants who were “fairly satisfied” with information resources had awareness levels of preventive behavioral practices lower than that of “unsatisfied” respondents (Coef.: −0.45; 95% CI: 0.74; −0.16).ConclusionThis study offers crucial insights into the pandemic awareness of citizens and risk communication effectiveness during COVID-19 in Vietnam. The study findings shall serve the development of policies and interventions aimed at empowering individuals in the local and global fight against coronavirus.

Racial and ethnic differences in vaccine hesitancy Among registered nurses in New Jersey: A cross-sectional survey

Nurses play an important role in the vaccine readiness process and high vaccination rates among nurses are essential to ensuring successful vaccination programs. This study sought to examine whether the intention to get vaccinated varied by race and/or ethnicity among a large sample of registered nurses in New Jersey.

Towards an Accurate Estimation of COVID-19 Cases in Kazakhstan: Back-Casting and Capture-Recapture Approaches.

Background and Objectives: Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has emerged as the most devastating syndemic of the 21st century, with worrisome and sustained consequences for the entire society. Despite the relative success of vaccination programs, the global threat of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is still present and further efforts are needed for its containment and control. Essential for its control and containment is getting closer to understanding the actual extent of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Material and Methods: We present a model based on the mortality data of Kazakhstan for the estimation of the underlying epidemic dynamic—with both the lag time from infection to death and the infection fatality rate. For the estimation of the actual number of infected individuals in Kazakhstan, we used both back-casting and capture–recapture methods. Results: Our results suggest that despite the increased testing capabilities in Kazakhstan, official case reporting undercounts the number of infections by at least 60%. Even though our count of deaths may be either over or underestimated, our methodology could be a more accurate approach for the following: the estimation of the actual magnitude of the pandemic; aiding the identification of different epidemiological values; and reducing data bias. Conclusions: For optimal epidemiological surveillance and control efforts, our study may lead to an increased awareness of the effect of COVID-19 in this region and globally, and aid in the implementation of more effective screening and diagnostic measures.

A System View to the Risks of COVID-19 Vaccination Projects

The global vaccination program provides hope for ending the present worldwide pandemic. Due to the current pandemic, COVID-19 vaccines must be delivered and administered to communities once supplies are available. However, there are significant challenges in the sourcing, allocation, distribution, and uptake of vaccinations. A successful vaccination program would necessitate adequate risk management across the vaccination supply chain. This article has collected the predictable risks of the COVID-19 vaccines considered within the vaccine delivery system framework. The risks are presented based on relevant literature. Hence, this work’s framework is expected to contribute to better risk management of vaccination programs and similar future projects.

Assisting Front Liners: The Benefits Of Allergy Consultation On The Challenges To Covid Vaccination

Suspected adverse reactions (SAR) to COVID-19 vaccination pose a challenge to successful vaccination programs. In assessing and ruling out risk of adverse reactions to COVID vaccine components, allergy consultations assist in completion of vaccination programs.

‘I trust them because my mum trusts them’: Exploring the role of trust in HPV vaccination decision-making among adolescent girls and their mothers in France

The success of vaccination programmes relies on high uptake and acceptance of vaccines, which is in part influenced by public trust in vaccines, providers, policy-makers and information. France is one of the countries in the world with the lowest confidence in vaccination, with parents expressing particular concerns about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. This qualitative study explored the role of trust in HPV vaccination decision-making among mothers and adolescent girls in France. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with 15–16-year-old adolescent girls and their mothers in Paris. A thematic analysis based on deductive and inductive coding was conducted. HPV vaccination decision-making was described as a complex and uncertain process, a possible consequence of erosion of trust in the vaccine, in healthcare professionals and health authorities, and in information itself. Due to public criticism of the vaccine and conflicting advice received from medical professionals, the vaccine was perceived as controversial. The mothers’ strong trust in doctors did not always increase HPV vaccine acceptance, as doctors themselves failed to recommend or recommended against the vaccine. Furthermore, the perceived mismanagement of previous health events tainted the mothers’ trust in health authorities. Contrastingly, while adolescents expressed trust in doctors and health authorities, their trust in their own mothers was stronger. A lack of exposure to positive sources of information (e.g. from doctors, schools or media) contributed to low awareness about HPV vaccination among adolescent girls. While both mothers and girls discussed the importance of trusting themselves, they also acknowledged being influenced by others around them as well as information, often negative, from the internet. Adolescent girls also expressed mistrust about information in general, explaining that any information can be manipulated. Low confidence in HPV vaccination in France can be explained by broader trust issues, which will require long-term efforts to address.