Vaccine: X最新文献

Introduction: According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, ensuring influenza vaccination for public transportation drivers is considered a public health objective, given that these drivers are at high risk of contracting influenza. The main purpose of this cross-sectional study is, thus, to evaluate influenza vaccine hesitancy (VH) and its determinants among a representative sample of Lebanese public transportation drivers.

Methods: A survey questionnaire is conducted between January and March 2023, with the participation of a proportionate purposeful sample of 509 drivers from various regions in Lebanon. Study exposures include socio-demographics, health/work related variables, past experiences, knowledge and fatalistic views. VH and Vaccination Attitudes Examination (VAX) scales (score range 1 to 5 each) are used to measure study outcomes. Descriptive and bivariate statistical analyses, followed by ordinal and linear regression analyses are performed. Statistical significance is set at P < 0.025 (two sided).

Results: The vast majority of study participants (n = 499, 98 %) are males. Their age mean is 44.7 ± 12.6 years, while the mean duration of their work in public transportation is 11.5 ± 10.1 years. Results show vaccine hesitancy in terms of influenza risk calculation (3.27 ± 1.28), preference to natural immunity over influenza vaccines (3.23 ± 1.14) and vaccine constraints (2.83 ± 1.38). As for concerns regarding commercial profiteering behind influenza vaccines, the mean score of agreement with vaccines is 2.77 ± 1.10, while the mean score of lack of trust in vaccine safety is 2.70 ± 1.32.

Conclusions: Influenza VH among public transportation drivers in Lebanon is evident. Although a significant number of drivers are willing to be vaccinated, hesitancy often delays their decision. Study findings can inform influenza vaccination campaigns and syndicates regarding the need to raise awareness about influenza vaccine benefits among drivers and alleviate their hesitancies prior the upcoming flu season.

Globally, healthcare workers (HCWs) are at greater risk of contracting Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection than the general population, due to their frequent contact with blood or body fluids. For this reason, WHO underlined the importance of HBV immunization for all HCWs. Although sex is now considered one of the key factors influencing the intensity and duration of the immune response to vaccines, sex-specific analysis of vaccine-induced anti-HBs antibodies is rarely conducted. Our study aimed to evaluate the anti-HBs antibodies' long-lasting protective titers in male and female HCWs to identify sex differences in the humoral response to the HBV vaccine. The study was conducted on 2106 HCWs (1636 females and 470 males) working at the Padova University Hospital, Italy. Our results report significantly higher anti-HBs levels in female HCWs than in males, particularly when considering HCWs for whom the elapsed time since vaccination is greater than 10 years, suggesting a greater persistence of anti-HBs in females. In conclusion, our findings could contribute to understanding differences in the antibody response to the HBV vaccine between male and female subjects and improving vaccination strategies for HCWs.

Dengue fever is caused by the mosquito-borne dengue virus (DENV), which is endemic in more than 100 countries. Annually, there are approximately 390 million dengue cases, with a small subset manifesting into severe illnesses, such as dengue haemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome. Current treatment options for dengue infections remain supportive management due to the lack of an effective vaccine and clinically approved antiviral. Although the CYD-TDV (Dengvaxia®) vaccine with an overall vaccine efficacy of 60 % has been licensed for clinical use since 2015, it poses an elevated risk of severe dengue infections especially in dengue-naïve children below 9 years of age. The newly approved Qdenga vaccine was able to achieve an overall vaccine efficacy of 80 % after 12 months, but it was not able to provide a protective effect against DENV-3 in dengue naïve individuals. The Butantan-DV vaccine candidate is still undergoing phase 3 clinical trials for safety and efficacy evaluations in humans. Apart from live-attenuated vaccines, various other vaccine types are also currently being studied in preclinical and clinical studies. This review discusses the current status of dengue vaccine development.

Background: China's Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) provides vaccinations against 12 vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) at no cost to families. For some VPDs, parents may opt to substitute equivalent non-program vaccines, including combination vaccines, for EPI vaccines; substitute vaccines must be paid for by the family. Although parents have several choices for vaccinating their children, their preferences for vaccines and immunization schedules have not been systematically evaluated. We used a discrete choice experiment to evaluate four attributes of vaccines for routine immunization: number of injections, risk of mild side-effects, out-of-pocket cost, and location of manufacturer (domestic or imported).

Methods: In a questionnaire-based survey conducted in vaccination clinics, guardians were asked to select their preferred vaccination schedule from five options in ten choice sets with the four attributes. We used a mixed logit model to determine parental preferences for vaccination schedules, relative importance of attributes, and predict the likelihood of successful vaccination under different scenarios.

Results: A total of 581 parents from seven provinces and cities in China participated in the survey, and 488 respondents had internally consistent responses and were included in the analysis. The number of injections in the schedule was the most important attribute for predicting uptake, followed by risk of mild side-effects. Preferences varied by region and parental role. Predicted uptake in the preferred vaccination scenario relative to base-case schedule uptake was a 99.55 % increase.

Conclusions: Number of injections and risk of mild side-effects were the two most important attributes of the routine immunization schedule. Results from this study can help optimize the immunization schedule in China to improve coverage of childhood vaccines.

Vaccination is a cornerstone of public health, preventing infectious diseases with significant contribution to human health. In South Korea, the Korea Expert Committee on Immunization Practices (KECIP) plays a pivotal role in guiding national vaccination policies. In this comprehensive review, we investigated the history, legal basis, operation, and achievements of the KECIP, highlighting its critical role in shaping the country's successful vaccination program. We analyze the KECIP's diverse responsibilities, including deliberating on national immunization programs, establishing vaccination criteria, managing targeted infectious diseases, and formulating eradication strategies. Also, we revealed its well-defined structure, specialized subcommittees, and ethical protocols that ensure transparency and integrity. Furthermore, we explored the KECIP's strategic evolution, showcasing its contributions to expanding vaccine coverage, implementing emergency approvals, and optimizing foundational vaccinations for all age groups as well as special populations including immunocompromised individuals. By combining scientific rigor, expert insights, and a commitment to public health, the KECIP had navigated the dynamic landscape of infectious disease control, contributing significantly to South Korea's impressive vaccination achievements.

Background: Uptake of COVID-19 vaccines has stalled in the U.S. Some studies suggest that medical mistrust may be a barrier, but evidence is limited due to cross-sectional designs or convenience sampling.

Methods: We examined associations of medical mistrust with COVID-19 vaccine attitudes at baseline and vaccination uptake at follow-up using a population-based sample of Michigan adults with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. We summed ratings for three items of the Medical Mistrust Index (MMI) to measure trust in healthcare providers. For vaccine attitudes, we averaged ratings for two items on importance of getting the COVID-19 vaccine. For vaccination uptake as ever receiving at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. We conducted (1) linear regression models to examine cross-sectional associations between MMI and vaccine attitudes (n = 3865), (2) modified Poisson regression with robust standard errors to estimate prospective associations between MMI and vaccination uptake (n = 3741), and (3) effect modification and stratified analyses by race and ethnicity.

Results: The mean MMI score was 1.89. The mean of positive vaccine attitudes measure at baseline was 3.45 and the prevalence of receiving a vaccine at follow-up was 75.3 %. Higher MMI was associated with worse vaccine attitudes at baseline (coefficient = -0.64, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: -0.71, -0.56), and lower vaccine uptake at follow-up (adjusted risk ratio: 0.83, 95 % CI: 0.80, 0.86). Both associations were pronounced among non-Hispanic White and another non-Hispanic race and ethnicity individuals.

Conclusions: Understanding drivers of medical mistrust may help rebuild public trust in healthcare systems to promote vaccine uptake and improve public health.

Background: The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rate among Japanese high school girls remains critically low, reflecting ongoing public apprehension and misinformation. This study explores the relationship between information presentation and attitudes toward HPV vaccination in Japan.

Methods: We conducted a web-based survey of female high school students aged 15 to 16 and mothers of daughters of similar age across Japan. The first screening questionnaire investigated the vaccine uptake among eligible students. The detailed questions assessing awareness of HPV vaccination information, including vaccine eligibility and its cost, effectiveness, lifetime prevalence of HPV infection, and vaccine safety, were asked to the respondents. After presenting each piece of information, we investigated how the information influenced the vaccination attitudes of unvaccinated students and mothers of unvaccinated girls.

Results: Data collection occurred from August 20 to August 24, 2021. Of 473 students, 68 (14.4 %) had already been vaccinated before the study. Over half of the 245 participating students were aware of vaccine eligibility and cost (68.7 %) and effectiveness (63.6 %), but fewer understood lifetime prevalence (28.7 %) and safety (45.3 %). In contrast, awareness of the same questions in 245 mothers was higher than that in the students: 90.2 %, 92.5 %, 55.4 %, and 61.1 %, respectively. Among unvaccinated students and mothers of unvaccinated girls, the intention to get vaccinated increased the most after being informed about the lifetime risks of HPV infection; 50.5 % of students and 38.8 % of mothers showed a positive attitude toward the HPV vaccination.

Conclusions: Bridging the awareness gap between students and mothers is crucial for improving HPV vaccination rates. The findings underscore the potential of specific, targeted information to influence vaccination intentions, particularly regarding the HPV infection rate.

Background: The heterologous three-dose schedule of the protein subunit anti-COVID-19 SOBERANA®02 and SOBERANA® Plus vaccines has proved its safety, immunogenicity and efficacy in pediatric population, but durability of immunogenicity is not yet dilucidated. This study reports the safety and durability of the humoral and cellular responses in children and adolescents 5-7 months after receiving the heterologous vaccine schedule of SOBERANA® 02 and SOBERANA® Plus.

Methods: Children participating in a phase I/II clinical trial were followed-up for 5-7 months after the last dose. They were clinically examined by medical doctors, and their parents were interviewed searching for long-term adverse events. Blood samples were collected to evaluate the duration of humoral and cellular immune responses. Sera were tested for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein.

Results: There were no reports of severe adverse events such as coagulation disorders, myocarditis, or pericarditis. None of the participants who withdrew from the trial during the follow-up period did so due to post-vaccination adverse events. The humoral response waned in time for N-negative children, but levels of specific and neutralizing antibodies remained similar to those attained after the second dose of SOBERANA® 02 in the heterologous schedule. Neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 D614G and omicron BA.1 were detected 5-7 months post-vaccination. RBD-specific IFN-γ secreting cells showed no significant change compared to levels following primary immunization, in both N-negative and N-positive children.

Conclusions: The vaccination regimen was safe over time, and both humoral and cellular immunity persisted in the vaccinated population aged 3-18 years, 5-7 months after receiving the heterologous SOBERANA® 02 and SOBERANA® Plus vaccine schedule.Trial registry: https://rpcec.sld.cu/trials/RPCEC00000374-En.

Introduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a widespread skin-to-skin transmitted infection that poses a global health concern. Although Albania faced prior challenges, it has recently introduced a quadrivalent recombinant HPV vaccine, a critical step in preventing cervical cancer among young women. This study aims to identify potential gaps in knowledge and attitudes among Albanian women regarding cervical cancer and HPV infection, as well as provide insights into the effectiveness of the national primary prevention program.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 473 Albanian women using an anonymous online questionnaire to collect sociodemographic information, awareness on HPV infection and cervical cancer, and HPV vaccination practices. The association between sociodemographic variables and outcome measures was explored using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests in SPSS.

Results: Most of the participants fell within the age range of 18 to 30 years old (42.1 %). 71.7 % of the respondents lived in urban areas. According to the study findings, a considerable proportion of the participants demonstrated knowledge of cervical cancer, with 66.6 % correctly identifying HPV infection as a major cause of this disease. Additionally, the study uncovered that a substantial number of participants had an acceptable awareness (59.6 %) about the HPV vaccine. Nevertheless, 48.4 % of the participants expressed concerns about the vaccine's efficacy and safety.

Conclusions: The study reveals knowledge gaps and misconceptions about HPV transmission, hereditary aspects, and its connection to various cancers. While a positive attitude towards preventive measures exists, concerns about HPV vaccination safety and efficacy underscore the need for targeted education campaigns to enhance awareness and accessibility, addressing misconceptions and promoting informed decision-making for effective cervical cancer prevention.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) struggles with low full childhood vaccination coverage (around 50 %) and a high children-under-five mortality rate (79 deaths per 1000 live births). This situation is potentially exacerbated by vaccine hesitancy, which was identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the top 10 global health threats in 2019. To gain deeper insights into levels of vaccine confidence possibly influencing vaccination coverage, we explored perceptions and attitudes towards childhood and adult vaccines in Boende (Tshuapa province, western DRC), which experienced an Ebola outbreak in 2014 and hosted the EBL2007 Ebola vaccine trial (2019-2022). Using purposeful sampling, we conducted 29 individual interviews and 14 focus group discussions with diverse community members between July 2022 and March 2023. Our findings suggest the prevalence of a relatively low level of trust in COVID-19 vaccines compared to other vaccines. Additionally, the fear of Ebola disease seemed to lead to general acceptance of the EBL2007 trial vaccine, although some concerns were voiced about pre-testing and the decision to conduct the trial in the DRC. While trust in childhood vaccines and reported uptake appeared to be high, concerns existed regarding potential adverse effects and the possibility that vaccines targeted African children specifically. Our analysis further identified four recommendations to possibly enhance vaccine confidence in the region. This study highlights the multifaceted nature of vaccine confidence, influenced by the perceived risk of the targeted diseases, past experiences with medical interventions and staff, and sociopolitical contexts. However, we emphasise that increasing vaccine uptake requires a comprehensive approach, addressing not only vaccine confidence, but also crucial aspects like access to vaccines and robust disease surveillance activities. This would ultimately reduce the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases and lead to better public health outcomes in the region.