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Jimbo-Sotomayor R, da Costa Oliveira MT, Acurio LA, Bastías M, Carvalho M, Sánchez X, de Oliveira LH. Systematic documentation of the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines in Latin America and the Caribbean. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2024; 48:e50. [PMID: 38765497 PMCID: PMC11099337 DOI: 10.26633/rpsp.2024.50] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective To document the process of introducing COVID-19 vaccines in a selection of Latin American and Caribbean countries, including the lessons learned and the strengths and weaknesses, and similarities and differences among programs. Methods This descriptive study is based on a systematic evaluation of the process of introducing COVID-19 vaccines in Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Panama and Peru. Data were collected through a questionnaire distributed to key stakeholders. Six informants from each of the included countries participated in this study. The period of the study was from December 2021 through September 2022. Results The main strengths reported by countries were health workers' commitment to delivering vaccinations, evidence-based decision-making, the development of plans for vaccine introduction, the participation of national immunization technical advisory groups, the availability of economic resources and positive actions from the respective Ministry of Health. The main challenges were the actions of antivaccination groups, problems with electronic immunization registries, a lack of vaccines, delays in the delivery of vaccines and the scarcity of health personnel at the local level. Conclusions Commitment, the participation of multiple sectors, the availability of resources and preparedness planning were some of the many strengths shown by countries introducing COVID-19 vaccines. Weaknesses included third parties' interests, the lack of information systems and difficulty in accessing vaccines and vaccine services. There is a window of opportunity for countries to maintain the good practices that allowed for the processes' strengths and to assess the identified weaknesses to invigorate immunization programs and prepare for future health crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Jimbo-Sotomayor
- Centro de investigación para la Salud en América LatinaPontificia Universidad Católica del EcuadorQuitoEcuadorCentro de investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - María Tereza da Costa Oliveira
- Special Program for Comprehensive ImmunizationPan American Health OrganizationWashington, D.C.United States of AmericaSpecial Program for Comprehensive Immunization, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Luciana Armijos Acurio
- Centro de investigación para la Salud en América LatinaPontificia Universidad Católica del EcuadorQuitoEcuadorCentro de investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Magdalena Bastías
- Special Program for Comprehensive ImmunizationPan American Health OrganizationWashington, D.C.United States of AmericaSpecial Program for Comprehensive Immunization, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Marcia Carvalho
- Special Program for Comprehensive ImmunizationPan American Health OrganizationWashington, D.C.United States of AmericaSpecial Program for Comprehensive Immunization, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Xavier Sánchez
- Centro de investigación para la Salud en América LatinaPontificia Universidad Católica del EcuadorQuitoEcuadorCentro de investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Lucia Helena de Oliveira
- Special Program for Comprehensive ImmunizationPan American Health OrganizationWashington, D.C.United States of AmericaSpecial Program for Comprehensive Immunization, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D.C., United States of America
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2
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Lyons BA. How orientations to expertise condition the acceptance of (mis)information. Curr Opin Psychol 2023; 54:101714. [PMID: 37949009 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
This review explores psychological barriers to the acceptance of expert guidance. Specifically, the constructs of epistemic overconfidence, institutional distrust, anti-expert sentiments, anti-establishment orientations, science populism, and conspiracist worldviews are jointly considered as orientations to expertise. I review the state of the literature on their origins, prevalence, and effects on misinformation endorsement and acceptance of corrections. Addressing these psychological barriers requires building trust in institutions, backed by transparent communication and the involvement of community-based, non-expert messengers. As the review synthesizes disparate research strands, it underscores the need for future studies to compare, validate, and consolidate different orientations to expertise, understand causal relationships, and explore generalizability to diverse contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin A Lyons
- Department of Communication, University of Utah, 201 Presidents' Cir, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
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Ng DLC, Bin Jamalludin MA, Gan XY, Ng SY, Bin Mohamad Rasidin MZ, Felix BA, Jagang NM, Sindeh W, Bin Mohd Abdul Rahim MAH, Tan SB, Chai CS. Public's Willingness to Perform COVID-19 Self-Testing During the Transition to the Endemic Phase in Malaysia - A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2023; 16:2505-2519. [PMID: 38024502 PMCID: PMC10676112 DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s439530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Malaysia entered the transition to the endemic phase of Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) on 1st April 2022. This study aims to determine the public's willingness to perform COVID-19 self-testing. Factors that influenced their willingness were also assessed. Methods A nationwide, cross-sectional, and population-based study was conducted online in Malaysia from 28th April 2023 to 4th June 2023. Individuals aged 18 years and above were enrolled through the snowball sampling method. Data were analyzed by using the Chi-Square test, independent t-test, and binary logistic regression. Results One thousand four hundred fifty-three responses were included in the analysis. Of these respondents, 89.3% were willing, 4.1% were reluctant, and 6.6% remained hesitant to perform COVID-19 self-testing, The common reasons given by those willing to perform COVID-19 self-testing included being able to self-isolate (99.0%) and seek treatment (96.3%) earlier if tested positive. The common reasons against COVID-19 self-testing included the belief that COVID-19 is equivalent to the common flu (91.7%) and having received the COVID-19 vaccine (78.3%). The isolation policy for COVID-19 was the most significant consideration for those who were still hesitant (85.4%). Women [adjusted odds ratios (OR): 2.1, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI): 1.44-3.00, p < 0.001], individuals with tertiary education (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.32-3.26, p = 0.002), those vaccinated against COVID-19 (OR: 8.1, 95% CI: 2.63-24.82, p < 0.001), and individuals with prior experience of COVID-19 self-testing (OR: 4.2, 95% CI: 2.84-6.12, p < 0.001) showed a significantly higher willingness to engage in COVID-19 self-testing. Conclusion The public exhibited a high willingness to perform COVID-19 self-testing during the transition to the endemic phase in Malaysia. Future strategies to promote COVID-19 self-testing uptake in Malaysia should focus on vulnerable groups, address the common concerns among those hesitant and reluctant, and highlight the advantages of COVID-19 self-testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana-Leh-Ching Ng
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia
| | | | - Xhi-Yan Gan
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Siew-Yoong Ng
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Beverlyn Anak Felix
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia
| | | | - Woweham Sindeh
- Telupid Health Clinic, Ministry of Health, Beluran, Malaysia
| | | | - Seng-Beng Tan
- Palliative Care Unit, Subang Jaya Medical Center, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Chee-Shee Chai
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia
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Davies C, Mann A. Factors influencing women to accept diet and exercise messages on social media during COVID-19 lockdowns: A qualitative application of the health belief model. Health Mark Q 2023; 40:415-433. [PMID: 37021625 DOI: 10.1080/07359683.2023.2193076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates how engagement with social media leads women to adopt diet and exercise practices. We base our analysis on qualitative research, including surveys and in-depth interviews, with thirty (30) Australian women aged 18-35 years between April and August 2021. Our findings reveal how healthism discourse on social media, namely Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, underpin the adoption of diet and exercise practices by enhancing experiences of digital intimacy, repeat messages and personal testimonials from other women, and supporting new routines during COVID-19 lockdowns. This article contributes to health marketing literature by providing critical knowledge about women's experiences that prompt and shape complex ideologies of health that are often masked through diet and exercise practices on social media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare Davies
- Department of Media and Communications, University of Sydney, Hobart, Australia
| | - Alana Mann
- The Media School, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
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Sela Y, Grinberg K, Nissanholtz-Gannot R. The Dilemma of Compulsory Vaccinations-Ethical and Legal Considerations. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:healthcare11081140. [PMID: 37107974 PMCID: PMC10138527 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11081140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The high childhood vaccination coverage in Israel leads to a low rate of morbidity from the diseases against which the vaccination in administered. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, children's immunization rates declined dramatically due to closures of schools and childcare services, lockdowns, and guidelines for physical distancing. In addition, parents' hesitancy, refusals, and delays in adhering to routine childhood immunizations seem to have increased during the pandemic. A decline in routine pediatric vaccine administration might indicate that the entire population faces increased risks for outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. Throughout history, vaccines have raised questions about their safety, efficacy, and need among adults and parents who feared or hesitated to vaccinate their children. Objections derive from various ideological and religious reasons or concerns about the possible inherent dangers. Mistrust in the government and/or economic or political interests also raise concerns among parents. The importance of providing vaccines to maintain public health, as opposed to the autonomy of the individuals over their body and their children, raises ethical questions. In Israel, there is no legal obligation to get vaccinated. It is imperative to find a decisive solution to this situation without delay. Furthermore, where democratically one's principles are sacred and where one's autonomy over one's body is also unquestionable, such a legal solution would not only be unacceptable but also rather impossible to enforce. It seems that some reasonable balance between the necessity to preserve public health and our democratic principles should apply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yael Sela
- Department of Nursing Sciences, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek- Hefer 4025000, Israel
| | - Keren Grinberg
- Department of Nursing Sciences, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek- Hefer 4025000, Israel
| | - Rachel Nissanholtz-Gannot
- Department of Health Systems Management, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, Israel
- Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute, Jerusalem 9103702, Israel
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Green MS. Rational and irrational vaccine hesitancy. Isr J Health Policy Res 2023; 12:11. [PMID: 36978105 PMCID: PMC10043862 DOI: 10.1186/s13584-023-00560-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In the paper published recently in this journal, Kumar et al. explained why the key to improved COVID-19 vaccine uptake is to understand societal reactions leading to vaccine hesitancy. They conclude that communications strategies should be tailored to the different phases of vaccine hesitancy. However, within the theoretical framework provided in their paper, vaccine hesitancy should be recognized as having both rational and irrational components. Rational vaccine hesitancy is a natural result of the inherent uncertainties in the potential impact of vaccines in controlling the pandemic. In general, irrational hesitancy is based on baseless information obtained from hearsay and deliberately false information. Risk communication should address both with transparent, evidence-based information. Rational concerns can be allayed by sharing the process in which dilemmas and uncertainties are dealt with by the health authorities. Messages on irrational concerns need to address head on the sources spreading unscientific and unsound information. In both cases, there is a need to develop risk communication that restores trust in the health authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manfred S Green
- School of Public Health, University of Haifa, 199 Abba Khoushy, Mount Carmel, 3498838, Haifa, Israel.
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Seymen AA, Gulten E, Ozgur E, Ortaç B, Akdemir I, Cinar G, Saricaoglu EM, Guney-Esken G, Akkus E, Can F, Karahan ZC, Azap A, Tuncay E. Clinical evaluation of DIAGNOVIR SARS-CoV-2 ultra-rapid antigen test performance compared to PCR-based testing. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4438. [PMID: 36932107 PMCID: PMC10021059 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31177-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The development of rapid antigen tests has contributed to easing the burden on healthcare and lifting restrictions by detecting infected individuals to help prevent further transmission of the virus. We developed a state-of-art rapid antigen testing system, named DIAGNOVIR, based on immune-fluorescence analysis, which can process and give the results in a minute. In our study, we assessed the performance of the DIAGNOVIR and compared the results with those of the qRT-PCR test. Our results demonstrated that the sensitivity and specificity of the DIAGNOVIR were 94% and 99.2%, respectively, with a 100% sensitivity and 96.97% specificity, among asymptomatic patients. In addition, DIAGNOVIR can detect SARS‑CoV‑2 with 100% sensitivity up to 5 days after symptom onset. We observed that the DIAGNOVIR Rapid Antigen Test's limit of detection (LoD) was not significantly affected by the SARS‑CoV‑2 variants including Wuhan, alpha (B1.1.7), beta (B.1.351), delta (B.1.617.2) and omicron (B.1.1.529) variants, and LoD was calculated as 8 × 102, 6.81 × 101.5, 3.2 × 101.5, 1 × 103, and 1 × 103.5 TCID50/mL, respectively. Our results indicated that DIAGNOVIR can detect all SARS-CoV-2 variants in just seconds with higher sensitivity and specificity lower testing costs and decreased turnover time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Aytac Seymen
- EA Teknoloji LLC Bilkent CyberPark, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
- Felisya Biyomedikal, Bilkent, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
- Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, National Nanotechnology Research Center (UNAM), Bilkent University, Ankara, 06800, Turkey
| | - Ezgi Gulten
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, 06230, Turkey
| | - Erol Ozgur
- EA Teknoloji LLC Bilkent CyberPark, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
- James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Bülend Ortaç
- EA Teknoloji LLC Bilkent CyberPark, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
- Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, National Nanotechnology Research Center (UNAM), Bilkent University, Ankara, 06800, Turkey
| | - Irem Akdemir
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, 06230, Turkey
| | - Gule Cinar
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, 06230, Turkey
| | - Elif Mukime Saricaoglu
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, 06230, Turkey
| | - Gulen Guney-Esken
- Koc University IsBank Research Center for Infectious Diseases (KUISCID), Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Erman Akkus
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, 06230, Turkey
| | - Fusun Can
- School of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Koc University IsBank Research Center for Infectious Diseases (KUISCID), Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Zeynep Ceren Karahan
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, 06230, Turkey
| | - Alpay Azap
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, 06230, Turkey
| | - Erkan Tuncay
- Departments of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, 06230, Turkey.
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Bartosiewicz A, Łuszczki E, Bartosiewicz A, Dereń K, Oleksy Ł, Stolarczyk A. COVID-19-Related Predictors of Fear and Attitude to Vaccination Displayed by Polish Students. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10091524. [PMID: 36146600 PMCID: PMC9500877 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10091524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccines are one of the most important achievements of modern medicine in maintaining the health of the population. The prolonged pandemic and subsequent lockdowns meant that the new COVID-19 vaccine was regarded by scientists and society as the way to end the pandemic and return to normal life. The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors responsible for the feeling of fear due to COVID-19 infection and the attitudes of medical students towards vaccination against COVID-19. A cross-sectional study was conducted online among medical students using standardized questionnaires: the Fear of COVID-19 scale and the Vaccination Attitude Examination scale. According to the results obtained, the respondents had a low level of fear of COVID-19 and the majority had positive attitudes towards vaccination against COVID-19. Regression analysis showed that the main predictors of fear of the pandemic and attitudes towards vaccination were age, sex, field of study, and sources of knowledge about vaccines. The analysis of factors related to the discussed issues can be the basis to formulate educational and preventive programs, to shape positive attitudes of future health sector employees toward the issue of preventive vaccination, as well as for the development of strategies to promote vaccination against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Bartosiewicz
- Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Rzeszow, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-17-851-6811
| | - Edyta Łuszczki
- Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Rzeszow, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland
| | - Adam Bartosiewicz
- Faculty of Medicine, Medical Department, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Dereń
- Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Rzeszow, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland
| | - Łukasz Oleksy
- Oleksy Medical & Sports Sciences, 37-100 Łańcut, Poland
| | - Artur Stolarczyk
- Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Department, Medical Faculty, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
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