COVID-19 symptomatology and compliance with community mitigation strategies in Latin America early during the COVID-19 pandemic

Prevalence and factors associated with not receiving the booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in adults in Latin America and the Caribbean

Background

Booster doses have been described as effective in reducing hospitalizations and deaths from the new variants. However, its coverage is heterogeneous in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), one of the regions most affected by the pandemic. We aimed to assess the factors associated with not receiving a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine booster dose in adults from LAC.

Methods

We analyzed a secondary database compiled by the University of Maryland and Facebook assessing the global impact of COVID-19. We included Facebook users over 18 years of age who resided in LAC and responded to the survey between February 13, 2022, and March 14, 2022. We evaluated sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, food, and economic insecurity, mental health, and vaccination-related practices. We calculated crude (cPR) and adjusted (aPR) prevalence ratios with their respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI).

Results

The sample included 154,841 adults from 20 LAC countries. 33.7% (n = 46,459) reported not receiving the COVID-19 booster vaccine. Being under 75 years old, having a college, high school, pre-university, primary, or lower education, having no or 1 to 2 comorbidities, living in a town, having food insecurity, depressive symptoms, and having had COVID-19, were associated with a higher prevalence of not receiving the booster dose. In contrast, being female or non-binary and having anxiety symptoms were associated with a lower prevalence of not receiving the booster dose.

Conclusions

Approximately three out of 10 adults surveyed in LAC reported not having received the booster vaccine. Authorities must design campaigns that promote receiving a booster dose considering the factors found.

Factors Associated with Not Receiving a Booster Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine in Peru

To determine the factors associated with not receiving the booster dose for COVID-19 in Peru, a cross-sectional study by secondary analysis of a University of Maryland and Facebook survey database assessing the global impact of COVID-19 was conducted. Data of Peruvian users of this social network over 18 years of age who answered the survey between 13 February 2022 and 14 April 2022 were analyzed. We evaluated the association between sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, and history of COVID-19 with having received a booster dose for COVID-19. Crude (cPR) and adjusted (aPR) prevalence ratios with their respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated. A sample of 20,814 adults, 21.5% of whom reported not receiving the booster dose, was analyzed. People under 75 years of age had a higher prevalence of not having received the booster dose. Likewise, having a university education (aPR = 1.03; 95%CI: 1.02–1.05), secondary, or pre-university education (aPR = 1.07; 95%CI: 1.05–1.09), or having a primary level or less (aPR = 1.11; 95%CI: 1.05–1.18), were associated with a higher prevalence of not receiving the booster, compared to individuals with a postgraduate education. Being employed (aPR = 1.01; 95%CI: 1.00–1.02), having had COVID-19 (aPR = 1.03; 95%CI: 1.01–1.04) and living in a town (aPR = 1.05; 95%CI: 1.02–1.07) or in a rural area (aPR = 1.06; 95%CI: 1.03–1.10), compared to living in the city, had a similar association. On the contrary, the female gender was associated with a lower prevalence of not receiving the booster (aPR = 0.97; 95%CI: 0.96–0.99). Sociodemographic characteristics and a history of having had COVID-19 were associated with the probability of not having received the booster dose for COVID-19 in the Peruvian population.

[Multidimensional analysis of the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic in countries of the AmericasAnálise multidimensional da evolução da pandemia da COVID-19 em países das Américas]

Objetivo.

Evaluar la evolución de pandemia de la COVID-19 entre los países de las Américas, comparando datos de los sistemas de salud previo a la llegada del virus a la Región, frente a los casos y muertes acumuladas antes del despliegue de las estrategias de inmunización de la población, y el estado actual de la vacunación.

Métodos.

Se realizo un análisis multivariante HJ-Biplot y análisis de cluster, para 28 países de la Región de las Américas, en tres momentos del tiempo: diciembre de los años 2019, 2020 y 2021.

Resultados.

En el continente americano se observa heterogeneidad en las acciones implementadas para contener la pandemia, la cual se refleja en diferentes grupos de naciones.

Conclusiones.

No todos los países de la Región de las Américas contaban con las condiciones de salubridad necesarias para afrontar la contención de la COVID-19. A cierre de 2019 Estados Unidos, Canadá, Brasil y Cuba se observaban con ventajas frente a los demás países de la Región, sin embargo, la pertinencia de las acciones implementadas durante el año 2020 para contener la pandemia, generaron diferentes grupos de países según la prevalencia de contagios y muertes. En tal momento, Bolivia, Ecuador y México, presentaban niveles críticos de letalidad. A cierre de 2021, tras la implementación de los planes de vacunación, Argentina, Brasil, Canadá, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Panamá, Estados Unidos y Uruguay registran más del 60% de su población con el esquema de vacunación completo.

Frequency of Correct Mask Use Among Pedestrians in High-Flow Indoor Public Spaces: A Multicenter Analysis in the First and Second Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Peru

Background:

Our study aimed to describe the variation in the frequency of correct mask use among pedestrians in the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in high-flow indoor public spaces from different geographic and social settings in Peru.

Methods:

We carried out a cross-sectional exploratory study among pedestrians in Lima (the capital city) and other coastal and highland cities in Peru. Pedestrians were directly observed by trained medical students in 2 high-flow indoor areas at different times in November 2020 (first wave) and October 2021 (second wave). Primary outcomes included the frequencies of mask use and correct use. We applied multinomial logistic models and estimated crude and adjusted relative prevalence ratios for sex, age, obesity, and location. Additionally, we used binomial generalized linear models to estimate prevalence ratios in crude and adjusted models.

Results:

We included 1996 participants. The frequency of mask use was similar in both years: 96.9% in 2020 and 95.5% in 2021. However, the frequency of correct mask use significantly decreased from 81.9% (95% CI, 79.4-84.3) in 2020 to 60.3% (95% CI, 57.2-67.3) in 2021. In 2020, we observed an increase in the probability of misuse in the cities of Lima (aRP: 1.42; P = .021) and Chiclayo (aPR: 1.62, P = .001), whereas, in 2021, we noted an increase in the probability of misuse in the cities of Lima (aRP: 1.72; P < .001) and Piura (aPR: 1.44; P < .001).

Conclusions:

The correct mask use decreased during the second wave, although no significant overall variations were observed in mask use in pedestrians between both periods. Also, we found regional differences in correct mask use in both periods.