Current Overview of Occupational Vaccinations in Spain: “Vaccination profile in the Occupational Risk Prevention Services”

Artículos originales[ES] En términos económicos y preventivos, la vacunación se ha demostrado como la medida más eficaz y rentable para prevenir enfermedades infecciosas inmunoprevenibles, tanto a nivel individual como comunitario. La gestión de los riesgos biológicos en el entorno laboral requiere de un sistema integral de gestión del riesgo, donde la vacunación juega un papel fundamental como elemento clave de protección personal. Se considera como un Equipo de Protección Individual (EPI) específico, y su suministro y uso obligatorio están regulados por normas legislativas que establecen la responsabilidad del empleador en su entrega, así como la capacitación en prevención y su utilización por parte del trabajador. Las vacunas también constituyen la medida más efectiva en términos de salud pública y aportan grandes beneficios a la humanidad en la prevención de enfermedades. Este hecho ha sido evidente durante la reciente pandemia del COVID-19. La vacunación abarca una amplia gama de objetivos estratégicos que deben abordarse, como las enfermedades transmisibles, las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles, los accidentes, los factores de riesgo, la equidad, el fortalecimiento del sector de la salud, la calidad de la atención y los desastres, las emergencias y las epidemias. Por lo tanto, es fundamental aprovechar todos los recursos disponibles en el ámbito de la salud para garantizar la mayor cobertura vacunal posible en la población. Además, es crucial contar con un registro adecuado para no perder información relevante en relación con el proceso de vacunación. De esta manera, se puede asegurar una protección efectiva contra enfermedades y promover la salud y el bienestar de la sociedad en su conjunto. [EN] In economic and preventive terms, vaccination has proven to be the most efficient and cost-effective measure to prevent immuno-preventable infectious diseases, both at individual and community level. The management of bio-logical risks in the work environment requires a comprehensive risk management system, where vaccination plays a fundamental role as a key element of personal protection. It is considered as a specific Personal Protective Equip-ment (PPE), and its provision and mandatory use are regulated by legislative norms that establish the employer’s responsibility in its delivery, as well as the prevention training and its use by the worker.Vaccines are also the most effective measure in terms of public health and bring great benefits to humanity in the prevention of diseases. This has been evident during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccination covers a wide range of strategic objectives to be addressed, such as communicable diseases, chronic non-communicable diseas-es, accidents, risk factors, equity, health sector strengthening, quality of care and disasters, emergencies and epi-demics.It is therefore essential to take advantage of all available health resources to ensure the highest possible vaccination coverage in the population. In addition, proper record keeping is crucial in order not to lose relevant information regarding the vaccination process. In this way, effective protection against diseases can be ensured and the health and well-being of society as a whole can be promoted.[ES] En términos económicos y preventivos, la vacunación se ha demostrado como la medida más eficaz y rentable para prevenir enfermedades infecciosas inmunoprevenibles, tanto a nivel individual como comunitario. La gestión de los riesgos biológicos en el entorno laboral requiere de un sistema integral de gestión del riesgo, donde la vacunación juega un papel fundamental como elemento clave de protección personal. Se considera como un Equipo de Protección Individual (EPI) específico, y su suministro y uso obligatorio están regulados por normas legislativas que establecen la responsabilidad del empleador en su entrega, así como la capacitación en prevención y su utilización por parte del trabajador. Las vacunas también constituyen la medida más efectiva en términos de salud pública y aportan grandes beneficios a la humanidad en la prevención de enfermedades. Este hecho ha sido evidente durante la reciente pandemia del COVID-19. La vacunación abarca una amplia gama de objetivos estratégicos que deben abordarse, como las enfermedades transmisibles, las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles, los accidentes, los factores de riesgo, la equidad, el fortalecimiento del sector de la salud, la calidad de la atención y los desastres, las emergencias y las epidemias. Por lo tanto, es fundamental aprovechar todos los recursos disponibles en el ámbito de la salud para garantizar la mayor cobertura vacunal posible en la población. Además, es crucial contar con un registro adecuado para no perder información relevante en relación con el proceso de vacunación. De esta manera, se puede asegurar una protección efectiva contra enfermedades y promover la salud y el bienestar de la sociedad en su conjunto. [EN] In economic and preventive terms, vaccination has proven to be the most efficient and cost-effective measure to prevent immuno-preventable infectious diseases, both at individual and community level. The management of bio-logical risks in the work environment requires a comprehensive risk management system, where vaccination plays a fundamental role as a key element of personal protection. It is considered as a specific Personal Protective Equip-ment (PPE), and its provision and mandatory use are regulated by legislative norms that establish the employer’s responsibility in its delivery, as well as the prevention training and its use by the worker.Vaccines are also the most effective measure in terms of public health and bring great benefits to humanity in the prevention of diseases. This has been evident during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccination covers a wide range of strategic objectives to be addressed, such as communicable diseases, chronic non-communicable diseas-es, accidents, risk factors, equity, health sector strengthening, quality of care and disasters, emergencies and epi-demics.It is therefore essential to take advantage of all available health resources to ensure the highest possible vaccination coverage in the population. In addition, proper record keeping is crucial in order not to lose relevant information regarding the vaccination process. In this way, effective protection against diseases can be ensured and the health and well-being of society as a whole can be promoted.N

Emergence of New SARS-CoV2 Omicron Variants after the Change of Surveillance and Control Strategy

In January 2022, there was a global and rapid surge of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 related to more transmission. This coincided with an increase in the incidence in Asturias, a region where rapid diagnosis and containment measures had limited the circulation of variants. Methods: From January to June 2022, 34,591 variants were determined by the SNP method. From them, 445 were characterized by the WGS method and classified following pangolin program and phylogenic analysis. Results: The Omicron variant went from being detected in 2438 (78%) samples in the first week of January 2021 to 4074 (98%) in the third week, according to the SNP method. Using the WGS method, 159 BA.1 (35.7%), 256 BA.2 (57.6%), 1 BA.4 (0.2%) and 10 BA.5 (2.2%) Omicron variants were found. Phylogenetic analysis detected that three new sub-clades, BA.2,3.5, BA.2.56 and BF1, were circulating. Conclusions: The increase in the incidence of SARS-CoV2 caused the circulation of new emerging variants. Viral evolution calls for continuous genomic surveillance

Effects of Roughness Loss on Reef Hydrodynamics and Coastal Protection: Approaches in Latin America

Reefs are known to provide coastal protection and important ecosystem services for many coastlines around the world. Physical processes such as wave damping, sediment transport and nearshore hydrodynamics are closely related to the coastal protection services provided by reefs. The steep-fronted bathymetries of reefs cause abrupt wave transformations and wave damping alongshore, while reef roughness has an important contribution to coastal protection. Five Latin-American case studies are presented to illustrate the coastal protection offered by reefs and their contribution to wave damping. The methodologies applied (e.g. numerical modelling, field measurements) and reef conditions (e.g. reef degradation scenarios and contribution of reef roughness) are listed. Considerable efforts have been made towards diagnosing, understanding and modelling the hydrodynamic transformations induced by reefs. Based on physical and field surveys, roughness and friction parameters were derived in order to implement calibrated and validated numerical models. Discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of the different models applied in the study cases is provided as well as on the needs of highlighting physical processes and the analysis of reef hydrodynamics for supporting appropriate ecosystem-based management

La desescalada de las medidas de mitigación contra el COVID-19 en España (mayo–junio 2020)

[EN] Introduction: The state of alarm was declared in Spain due to the COVID-19 epidemic on March 14, 2020, and established population confinement measures. The objective is to describe the process of lifting these mitigation measures. Methods: The Plan for the Transition to a New Normality, approved on April 28, contained four sequential phases with progressive increase in socio-economic activities and population mobility. In parallel, a new strategy for early diagnosis, surveillance and control was implemented. A bilateral decision mechanism was established between the Spanish Government and the autonomous communities (AC), guided by a set of qualitative and quantitative indicators capturing the epidemiological situation and core capacities. The territorial units were established ad-hoc and could be from Basic Health Zones to entire AC. Results: The process run from May 4 to June 21, 2020. AC implemented plans for reinforcement of core capacities. Incidence decreased from a median (50% of territories) of 7.4 per 100,000 in 7 days at the beginning to 2.5 at the end. Median PCR testing increased from 53% to 89% of suspected cases and PCR total capacity from 4.5 to 9.8 per 1000 inhabitants weekly; positivity rate decreased from 3.5% to 1.8%. Median proportion of cases with traced contacts increased from 82% to 100%. Conclusion: Systematic data collection, analysis, and interterritorial dialogue allowed adequate process control. The epidemiological situation improved but, mostly, the process entailed a great reinforcement of core response capacities nation-wide, under common criteria. Maintaining and further reinforcing capacities remained crucial for responding to future waves. [ES] Introducción: El 14 de marzo de 2020 España declaró el estado de alarma por la pandemia por COVID-19 incluyendo medidas de confinamiento. El objetivo es describir el proceso de desescalada de estas medidas. Métodos: Un plan de transición hacia una nueva normalidad, del 28 de abril, incluía 4 fases secuenciales incrementando progresivamente las actividades socioeconómicas y la movilidad. Concomitantemente, se implementó una nueva estrategia de diagnóstico precoz, vigilancia y control. Se estableció un mecanismo de decisión bilateral entre Gobierno central y comunidades autónomas (CCAA), guiado por un panel de indicadores cualitativos y cuantitativos de la situación epidemiológica y las capacidades básicas. Las unidades territoriales evaluadas comprendían desde zonas básicas de salud hasta CCAA. Resultados: El proceso se extendió del 4 de mayo al 21 de junio y se asoció a planes de refuerzo de las capacidades en las CCAA. La incidencia disminuyó de una mediana inicial de 7,4 por 100.000 en 7 días a 2,5 al final del proceso. La mediana de pruebas PCR aumentó del 53% al 89% de los casos sospechosos, y la capacidad total de 4,5 a 9,8 pruebas semanales por 1.000 habitantes; la positividad disminuyó del 3,5% al 1,8%. La mediana de casos con contactos trazados aumentó del 82% al 100%. Conclusión: La recogida y análisis sistemático de información y el diálogo interterritorial logaron un adecuado control del proceso. La situación epidemiológica mejoró, pero sobre todo, se aumentaron las capacidades, en todo el país y con criterios comunes, cuyo mantenimiento y refuerzo fue clave en olas sucesivas.S