Measles outbreak in Romania: understanding factors related to suboptimal vaccination uptake

COVID-19 vaccination of at-risk and marginalised groups: recentering the state in vaccine uptake

Recent studies have used the World Health Organization's new Behavioural and Social Drivers (BeSD) framework to analyse vaccine uptake. However, this study of COVID-19 vaccination among marginalised population groups highlights the framework's limitations regarding the centrality of the state in shaping people's vaccination intentions in high income countries. We conducted interviews and focus groups with service providers and community members to explore COVID-19 vaccination amongst Western Australians experiencing homelessness and/or from other marginalised populations (such as people with substance use dependence). Analysing this data iteratively to emphasise the state's role and functions, we elaborate how trauma and mistrust of government drive thoughts, feelings, and social interactions regarding vaccination programs, which are mutually reinforcing and which inhibit individuals' willingness to engage. Government systems that leave some populations behind increase those populations' susceptibility to misinformation. Policies may generate new unintended problems: social service providers worried about vaccine advocacy damaging clients' trust, especially in the context of vaccine mandates. Reframing the state's responsibility for designing culturally and socially appropriate services, we outline how end-users and trusted providers can lead this process. We share a new framework, "Recentering the State in Vaccine Uptake," arising from our analyses.

Suboptimal MMR Vaccination Coverages-A Constant Challenge for Measles Elimination in Romania

Measles is targeted for elimination since 2001, with a significant reduction in cases recorded worldwide, but outbreaks occur periodically due to immunization gaps. This study analyzes the evolution of vaccination coverage rates (VCRs) in Romania, a EU country with large measles epidemics during the last two decades, including an ongoing outbreak in 2023. Vaccination against measles has been part of the National Immunization Program since 1979, initially as a single dose, and from 1994 onwards it has had two doses. The initially high national VCRs of >97% gradually declined from 2010 onward and remained constantly under 90%, with further decreases during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lowest VCRs for both vaccine doses in the last decade were recorded in 2022 and were 83.4% for the first dose and 71.4% for the second dose, with significant differences among Romania's 42 counties. Several factors contributed to this decline, including failure to attend the general practitioners' offices, increased number of children lost to follow-up due to population movements, missed vaccination opportunities due to temporary medical contraindications, a surge in vaccine hesitancy/refusal, a decreasing number of general practitioners and discontinuities in vaccine supply. The persisting suboptimal VCRs in Romania threaten the progress toward measles elimination.

Measles in vulnerable populations: An outbreak in Roma settlements of Loire-Atlantique, France, 2019

In May 2019, a measles outbreak occurred in the French subregion of Loire-Atlantique, particularly affecting Roma settlements. Various obstacles hindered the implementation of postexposure measures among Roma population, resulting in the spread of the cases to other settlements. Suspected cases of measles were immediately investigated and concerned settlements were visited for measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination. From July 1 to September 3, 2019, a first and then a second Health Reserve team helped for vaccination on the affected and then also the measles-free settlements. Vaccination uptake was monitored with the use of the department's vaccination center immunization registry. Genotyping of selected samples was performed for comparison with viruses circulating at the same time in France and Romania. As of September 16 2019, 109 cases of measles were confirmed among Roma population, including 99 (91%) children under 15 years. Of the 85 people eligible for vaccination, 60 (71%) had not been vaccinated and 23 (27%) had an unknown vaccination status. Sequence comparison revealed that 28/29 sequenced D8 strains were 100% identical to the strain responsible for a large number of cases throughout France in 2019, and to two sequences reported in Romania among sporadic cases. The vaccination campaign resulted in 1136 people on 35 settlements receiving at least one dose of MMR vaccine and in the increase of one-dose MMR vaccine coverage at 24 months from 43% (23/53) to 91% (48/53). With measles transmission continuing in Europe, efforts must be made to meet immunization coverage targets, particularly in hard-to-reach communities where outbreaks may be difficult to control.

Hybrid health regimes: Access to primary care physicians and COVID-19 vaccine uptake across municipalities in Romania

This study analyses COVID-19 vaccine uptake at the municipal level in Romania using the global health regimes and vaccine hesitancy perspectives. Our spatial regression (SARAR-het Durbin) shows that the number of primary care physicians is a significant predictor of vaccine uptake, and municipalities with higher access to the labour market have higher vaccination rates. We provide a historical perspective to demonstrate that the current health regime in Romania is a hybrid of internationalist and global health regimes, with socialist investments affecting labour participation, education, poverty, and vaccination rates. Our findings highlight the impact of regional disparities and partial privatization of the health system.

Following Natural Autoantibodies: Further Immunoserological Evidence Regarding Their Silent Plasticity and Engagement in Immune Activation

Contradictory reports are available on vaccine-associated hyperstimulation of the immune system, provoking the formation of pathological autoantibodies. Despite being interconnected within the same network, the role of the quieter, yet important non-pathological and natural autoantibodies (nAAbs) is less defined. We hypothesize that upon a prompt immunological trigger, physiological nAAbs also exhibit a moderate plasticity. We investigated their inducibility through aged and recent antigenic triggers. Anti-viral antibodies (anti-MMR n = 1739 and anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG n = 330) and nAAbs (anti-citrate synthase IgG, IgM n = 1739) were measured by in-house and commercial ELISAs using Croatian (Osijek) anonymous samples with documented vaccination backgrounds. The results were subsequently compared for statistical evaluation. Interestingly, the IgM isotype nAAb showed a statistically significant connection with anti-MMR IgG seropositivity (p < 0.001 in all cases), while IgG isotype nAAb levels were elevated in association with anti-SARS CoV-2 specific seropositivity (p = 0.019) and in heterogeneous vaccine regimen recipients (unvaccinated controls vector/mRNA vaccines p = 0.002). Increasing evidence supports the interplay between immune activation and the dynamic expansion of nAAbs. Consequently, further questions may emerge regarding the ability of nAAbs silently shaping the effectiveness of immunization. We suggest re-evaluating the impact of nAAbs on the complex functioning of the immunological network.

Ongoing measles outbreaks in Romania, March 2023 to August 2023

Measles cases have recently been increasing in Romania, with 460 confirmed cases by August 2023. From March 2023, measles cases increased, and outbreaks were recorded in Cluj, Bistrita Nasaud, Sibiu and Mures counties. New D8 virus variants were identified, different from the variants detected in Romania before the COVID-19 pandemic. We here provide epidemiological and molecular data on the current increase in measles cases in the context of the measles elimination process in the World Health Organization European Region.

Vaccination barriers and drivers in Romania: a focused ethnographic study

BACKGROUND

In 2016-18, a large measles outbreak occurred in Romania identified by pockets of sub-optimally vaccinated population groups in the country. The aim of the current study was to gain insight into barriers and drivers from the experience of measles vaccination from the perspectives of caregivers and their providers.

METHODS

Data were collected by non-participant observation of vaccination consultations and individual interviews with health workers and caregivers in eight Romanian clinics with high or low measles vaccination uptake. Romanian stakeholders were involved in all steps of the study. The findings of this study were discussed during a workshop with key stakeholders.

RESULTS

Over 400 h of observation and 161 interviews were conducted. A clear difference was found between clinics with high and low measles vaccination uptake which indicates that being aware of and following recommended practices for both vaccination service delivery and conveying vaccine recommendations to caregivers may have an impact on vaccine uptake. Barriers identified were related to shortcomings in following recommended practices for vaccination consultations by health workers (e.g. correctly assessing contraindications or providing enough information to allow an informed decision). These observations were largely confirmed in interviews with caregivers and revealed significant knowledge gaps.

CONCLUSIONS

The identification of key barriers provided an opportunity to design specific interventions to improve vaccination service delivery (e.g. mobile vaccination clinics, use of an electronic vaccination registry system for scheduling of appointments) and build capacity among health workers (e.g. guidance and supporting materials and training programmes).

Study on the interaction between different pathogens of Hand, foot and mouth disease in five regions of China

Objectives

This study aims to explore the interaction of different pathogens in Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) by using a mathematical epidemiological model and the reported data in five regions of China.

Methods

A cross-regional dataset of reported HFMD cases was built from four provinces (Fujian Province, Jiangsu province, Hunan Province, and Jilin Province) and one municipality (Chongqing Municipality) in China. The subtypes of the pathogens of HFMD, including Coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16), enteroviruses A71 (EV-A71), and other enteroviruses (Others), were included in the data. A mathematical model was developed to fit the data. The effective reproduction number (R _eff ) was calculated to quantify the transmissibility of the pathogens.

Results

In total, 3,336,482 HFMD cases were collected in the five regions. In Fujian Province, the R _eff between CV-A16 and EV-A71&CV-A16, and between CV-A16 and CV-A16&Others showed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). In Jiangsu Province, there was a significant difference in R _eff (P < 0.05) between the CV-A16 and Total. In Hunan Province, the R _eff between CV-A16 and EV-A71&CV-A16, between CV-A16 and Total were significant (P < 0.05). In Chongqing Municipality, we found significant differences of the R _eff (P < 0.05) between CV-A16 and CV-A16&Others, and between Others and CV-A16&Others. In Jilin Province, significant differences of the R _eff (P < 0.05) were found between EV-A71 and Total, and between Others and Total.

Conclusion

The major pathogens of HFMD have changed annually, and the incidence of HFMD caused by others and CV-A16 has surpassed that of EV-A71 in recent years. Cross-regional differences were observed in the interactions between the pathogens.

Design and implementation of tailored intervention to increase vaccine acceptance in a Somali community in Stockholm, Sweden - based on the Tailoring Immunization Programmes approach

Objectives

Sweden has had a high and stable vaccination coverage for measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine (>96%) through the national immunization program (NIP), but coverage rates highlight local pockets of lower vaccination coverage. This project addressed low MMR vaccine acceptance among parents in a Somali community, in Stockholm. The objective of the intervention was to increase vaccine confidence and MMR-vaccine uptake and also to inform practices addressing vaccine acceptance.

Study design

This paper describes the design and implementation of a multi-component intervention based on the Tailoring Immunization Programmes (TIP) approach, developed by the WHO European Regional Office.

Methods

The theoretical underpinning of TIP is the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation Model (COM-B model) and Behaviour Change Wheel framework (BCW), adapted for vaccination. The COM-model was used to identify barriers and drivers to vaccination and intervention types. The TIP-phases described in this paper are: pre-TIP (planning), three succeeding TIP phases (situational analysis, formative research, intervention design) and the post-TIP phase (implementation).

Results

The situation analysis and formative research revealed that parents feared the MMR vaccine due to autism or that their child would stop talking following vaccination, despite lack of scientific evidence for an association between autism and MMR vaccines. Barriers were linked to their associated COM-B factors and mapped to appropriate intervention types for two target groups: Somali parents and nurses at the Child Health Centres (CHC). Selected intervention types targeting parents were education, persuasion and modelling whereas education and training were selected for CHC nurses. The intervention activities included community engagement for parents, while the activities for nurses focused on improving encounters and dialogue with parents having low vaccine acceptance. Following the intervention design the activities were developed, pilot tested and implemented.

Conclusion

This study confirm that the TIP approach is valuable for guiding a stepwise working process for a thorough understanding of barriers and drivers for MMR vaccination among parents in this Somali community. It facilitated the design of a theory and evidence-informed intervention targeting parents and nurses.

Access to Vaccination among Disadvantaged, Isolated and Difficult-to-Reach Communities in the WHO European Region: A Systematic Review

Vaccination has a significant impact on morbidity and mortality. High vaccination coverage rates are required to achieve herd protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. However, limited vaccine access and hesitancy among specific communities represent significant obstacles to this goal. This review provides an overview of critical factors associated with vaccination among disadvantaged groups in World Health Organisation European countries. Initial searches yielded 18,109 publications from four databases, and 104 studies from 19 out of 53 countries reporting 22 vaccine-preventable diseases were included. Nine groups representing the populations of interest were identified, and most of the studies focused on asylum seekers, refugees, migrants and deprived communities. Recall of previous vaccinations received was poor, and serology was conducted in some cases to confirm protection for those who received prior vaccinations. Vaccination coverage was lower among study populations compared to the general population or national average. Factors that influenced uptake, which presented differently at different population levels, included health service accessibility, language and vaccine literacy, including risk perception, disease severity and vaccination benefits. Strategies that could be implemented in vaccination policy and programs were also identified. Overall, interventions specific to target communities are vital to improving uptake. More innovative strategies need to be deployed to improve vaccination coverage among disadvantaged groups.

Evolving measles status and immunization policy development in six European countries

Developing and implementing new immunization policies in response to shifting epidemiology is a critical public health component. We adopted a mixed-methods approach (via narrative literature review [101 articles] and 9 semi-structured interviews) to evaluate policy development in response to shifting measles epidemiology in six European countries (Italy, Belgium, Germany, Romania, UK, and Ukraine); where policies and strategies have evolved in response to country-specific disease and vaccination patterns. Periodic outbreaks have occurred in all countries against a background of declining measles-containing-vaccine (MCV) uptake and increasing public vaccine hesitancy (with substantial regional or social differences in measles burden and vaccine uptake). Health-care worker (HCW) vaccine skepticism is also seen. While many outbreaks arise or involve specific susceptible populations (e.g., minority/migrant communities), the broader pattern is spread to the wider (and generally older) population; often among incompletely/non-vaccinated individuals as a legacy of previous low uptake. Immunization policy and strategic responses are influenced by political and social factors, where public mistrust contributes to vaccine hesitancy. A strong centralized immunization framework (allied with effective regional implementation and coherent political commitment) can effectively increase uptake. Mandatory vaccination has increased childhood MCV uptake in Italy, and similar benefits could be anticipated for other countries considering vaccine mandates. Although possible elsewhere, socio-political considerations render mandating impractical in other countries, where targeted immunization activities to bolster routine uptake are more important. Addressing HCW skepticism, knowledge gaps, improving access and increasing public/community engagement and education to address vaccine hesitancy/mistrust (especially in communities with specific unmet needs) is critical.

The impact of misinformation on the COVID-19 pandemic

Since the inception of the current pandemic, COVID-19 related misinformation has played a role in defaulting control of the situation. It has become evident that the internet, social media, and other communication outlets with readily available data have contributed to the dissemination and availability of misleading information. It has perpetuated beliefs that led to vaccine avoidance, mask refusal, and utilization of medications with insignificant scientific data, ultimately contributing to increased morbidity. Undoubtedly, misinformation has become a challenge and a burden to individual health, public health, and governments globally. Our review article aims at providing an overview and summary regarding the role of media, other information outlets, and their impact on the pandemic. The goal of this article is to increase awareness of the negative impact of misinformation on the pandemic. In addition, we discuss a few recommendations that could aid in decreasing this burden, as preventing the conception and dissemination of misinformation is essential.

Should vaccination be mandated? Individuals' perceptions on mandatory vaccination in Greece

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to explore factors that influence individuals' attitudes towards mandatory vaccination in Greece.

METHODS

A nationally representative cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted via a random multistage selection process in October 2019 in Greece. The survey was designed to obtain information about whether vaccination should be mandated or not among adults 18 years of age or older. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to estimate the association between individuals' sociodemographic, contextual and clinical characteristics, utilization, satisfaction, and trust in the healthcare system and providers and their preference over mandatory vaccination.

RESULTS

A total of 901 participants fully completed the survey (response rate 90%-901/1001). About 85% of the respondents supported mandatory vaccination. Individuals who used preventive services more often compared to those who never or rarely used such, those who reported increased trust in official healthcare authorities' guidelines and recommendations compared to those who reported no trust and those who had underage children living in the household were significantly more likely to support mandatory vaccination. No differences were observed for sociodemographic factors and mandatory vaccination support.

CONCLUSION

This survey revealed that most Greek citizens support mandatory vaccination, which was critically affected by the utilization of preventive services and trust in healthcare authorities. Our results suggest that healthcare policy interventions should promote mandatory vaccination through multi-level initiatives to improve healthcare providers' and the general public's understanding of the value of vaccination.

COVID-19 Pandemic Worry and Vaccination Intention: The Mediating Role of the Health Belief Model Components

Given the negative consequences of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on public health, his study aimed at investigating: (1) the differences between adults with and without chronic illness in buying behavior, vaccination intention, pandemic worry, and the health belief model (HBM) components; (2) the HBM components as mediators of the relationship between pandemic worry and vaccination intention. The sample consisted of 864 adults (66.6% females, M_age = 47.61, SD = 9.23), of which 20.5% reported having a chronic illness. Associations between pandemic worry, vaccination intention, and HBM were ascertained using correlation and mediation analyses. Individuals with chronic illness reported a higher level of pandemic worry, higher levels of perceived threat, greater benefits from vaccination, had lower self-efficacy and bought more medicine and sanitary/hygienic products. No significant differences were observed regarding vaccination intention, barriers against vaccination, and changes in food buying behavior. We found that the relationship between pandemic worry and vaccination intention was partially mediated by the perceived threat of disease and the benefits of vaccination. Pandemic worry predicted vaccination intention directly but also through the contribution of the perceived threat of disease and the benefits of vaccination. These findings suggest that presenting evidence of COVID-19 vaccine efficacy and the benefits of having the vaccine (especially for vulnerable groups, such as chronic illness patients) will encourage the population to follow vaccination recommendations.

Vaccination coverage estimates and utilization patterns of inactivated enterovirus 71 vaccine post vaccine introduction in Ningbo, China

Background

In China, enterovirus 71 (EV71) is the major etiological agents of hand foot mouth disease that poses severe risks to children’s health. Since 2015, three inactivated EV71 vaccines have been approved for use. Previous studies indicated the high willingness of EV71 vaccination in eastern China. However, few studies have assessed coverage and utilization patterns of EV71 vaccine in China.

Methods

Children born during 2012–2018 were sampled and their records were abstracted from Ningbo childhood immunization information management system. Descriptive statistics characterized the study population and assessed coverage and timeliness for EV71 vaccination. Simultaneous administration patterns as well as type of EV71 vaccine used were also evaluated. Bivariate and multivariable analysis was used to examine the relationship of socio-demographic characteristics with vaccination coverage and timeliness.

Results

Of 716,178 children living in Ningbo. One hundred seventy-two thousand two hundred thirty-six received EV71 vaccine with a coverage rate of 24.05% and only 8.61% received vaccination timely. 21.97% of children received the complete two dose EV71 series but only 6.49% completed timely. Vaccination coverage and timeliness increased significantly from 2012 birth cohort to 2018 birth cohort. Relatively higher coverage and timeliness were observed in resident children, Inner districts, high socioeconomic areas and large-scaled immunization clinics. Of 329,569 doses of EV71 vaccine, only 5853(1.78%) doses were administered at the same day as other vaccines.

Conclusions

There is a need for increasing EV71 vaccination coverage and timeliness as well as eliminating disparities among different populations. Our study highlights the importance of simultaneous administration to increasing coverage and timeliness of EV71 vaccination.