Allergic Disorders in Africa and Africans: Is it Primarily a Priority?

In Africa, the burden of some diseases has been a problem for centuries. The spectrum of African diseases includes allergies, infections, nutritional deficiencies, and natural disasters. Efforts made by scientists to search for possible means of disease control have been outstanding; however, in some infections, solutions are still out of reach. In disease control programs, it might be worthwhile to pay attention to the most striking diseases than merely follow a holistic approach. This short review tackles the problems of allergy and allergens in Africa as compared with other disease burdens that may suggest the need for a more balanced approach based on priority

COVID-19 Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Vaccination Hesitancy in Moshi, Kilimanjaro Region, Northern Tanzania: COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy in Tanzania

Background: The COVID-19 vaccinations have reignited optimism in many cultures devastated by the pandemic's tremendous loss of lives and livelihoods. Vaccination hesitancy is a critical and growing international problem in the global effort to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. To successfully handle vaccination hesitancy concerns, it is necessary to understand the levels of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors on COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to understand people’s knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes about COVID 19 and its related vaccines. Methods: In October 2021, a cross-sectional study with 232 participants was conducted. A standardized interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Results: Most respondents in the present survey heard about COVID-19 between January and March 2020. Social media and newspapers are the most effective sources of information on COVID-19, reaching 34.48 % of the population. Basic COVID-19 knowledge was reported to be moderate. Nearly half of the respondents (48.3 %) thought SARSCOV-2 was man-made, while 36.21 % were unsure. Good preventive behaviors were indicated by 49.14 % of subjects. Overall, we find that around 65 % of people are reluctant to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Male gender, low education, and occupation were shown to be more hesitant about vaccination. In this study, healthcare workers were averse to getting the COVID-19 vaccine. The reasons for vaccination hesitation were "unknown safety" of the vaccines (17.4 %) and "unknown long-term consequences" of the vaccines (18.97 %). Almost a third (27.59 %) of those interviewed said they had no intention of being vaccinated. Conclusion: We report moderate knowledge on COVID-19, as well as effective preventive practices, but negative attitudes regarding COVID-19 vaccination, resulting in low vaccination rates of 6.9%. Misinformation regarding COVID-19 appears to play a key role in vaccination reluctance