Japanese encephalitis immunization in South Korea: past, present, and future.

Japanese encephalitis (JE), once a major public health problem in South Korea, has declined since the 1980s, as a result of improved living conditions, a mosquito eradication program, and a national JE vaccination program, which includes annual booster vaccine for all children less than or equal to 15 years of age. Increased immunity has greatly reduced illness and death; however, vaccine adverse effects are increasing, and a National Compensation Program for Vaccine Injury was begun in 1995. This article reviews past successes, current problems, and future direction of the JE vaccination program in South Korea

Drivers of vaccine hesitancy among vulnerable populations in India: a cross-sectional multi-state study

ObjectivesIndia’s Covid-19 vaccination campaign engaged frontline workers (FLWs) to encourage vaccination among vulnerable segments of society. The FLWs report encountering a variety of barriers to vaccination and are often unsuccessful despite multiple visits to the same person. This cross-sectional study aims to pinpoint which of these barriers drive vaccine hesitancy among these segments, to help streamline vaccine communication, including FLW training, to better safeguard the population.MethodsTrained field enumerators contacted 893 individuals from five states across India and collected self-reported assessments of fifteen vaccination barriers (identified through discussions with FLWs), current vaccination status and future vaccination intentions, and covariates (demographics/comorbidities). Factor analysis of the fifteen barriers yielded two factors, one relating to fear of vaccine adverse effects and a second focused on peripheral concerns regarding the vaccine. The covariates significantly associated with current vaccination status were combined under a latent class regime to yield three cluster types (health access, financial strength, and demographics). The primary analysis examined the effect of the two barrier factors, the covariate clusters, and comorbidity, on current vaccination status and future vaccine intentions.ResultsFear of vaccine adverse effects was the primary driver of vaccine hesitancy; peripheral concerns frequently mentioned by the FLWs had no impact. Although cluster membership and the presence of comorbidities predicted vaccine uptake, neither of them materially altered the effect of fear of vaccine adverse effects with the following exception: fear of adverse effects was not associated with vaccination status among young Muslim men.ConclusionSubject to limitations, these results indicate that interventions to decrease vaccine hesitancy should focus primarily on fear associated with vaccines rather than spend resources trying to address peripheral concerns

An Analysis of Covid-19 Vaccine Allergic Reactions

From our study, all three covid-19 vaccines have a similar proportion of adverse reaction reports in which the patient had a history of allergies. However, the proportion of life-threatening outcomes were lower for those with the Janssen vaccine (0.62% hospitalization rate for Janssen versus 2.59% for Pfizer and 0.60% death for Janssen versus 5.15% for Moderna). In terms of specific allergies, patients with *cillin or sulfa allergies had the most adverse reactions to covid-19 vaccines, however, Janssen again had the lowest percentage of reported deaths (1.39% for *cillin-related allergy deaths for Janssen versus 6.10% for Pfizer). In terms of patient age and gender, females has 2.9x the number of adverse reactions than males and a lower average age for reactions for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. We feel this data could be used by individuals and medical professionals to assist in choosing a vaccine to maximize patient safety based on their allergy history, age and gender

Do Childhood Vaccines Have Non-Specific Effects on Mortality

A recent article by Kristensen et al. suggested that measles vaccine and bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine might\ud reduce mortality beyond what is expected simply from protection against measles and tuberculosis. Previous reviews of the potential effects of childhood vaccines on mortality have not considered methodological features of reviewed studies. Methodological considerations play an especially important role in observational assessments, in which selection factors for vaccination may be difficult to ascertain. We reviewed 782 English language articles on vaccines and childhood mortality and found only a few whose design met the criteria for methodological rigor. The data reviewed suggest that measles vaccine delivers its promised reduction in mortality, but there is insufficient evidence to suggest a mortality benefit above that caused by its effect on measles disease and its sequelae. Our review of the available data in the literature reinforces how difficult answering these considerations has been and how important study design will be in determining the effect of specific vaccines on all-cause mortality.\u

Laboratory worker knowledge, attitudes and practices towards smallpox vaccine

Background Recent cases of laboratory-acquired vaccinia virus (VV) infection highlight the need for laboratory safety

Narcolepsy associated with Pandemrix influenza vaccine: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis forms the mini-dissertation part of the primarily coursework degree of Master of Public Health at the University of Cape Town. The review is divided into three separate parts. The first part constitutes the research protocol which outlines the proposed methods and scope of the review. The second part is a structured literature review further elaborating on the research topic and current knowledge of it. The final third part constitutes the manuscript-ready part of the review. The aim of the review is to systematically explore the current scientific literature regarding the association between narcolepsy and the Pandemrix pandemic influenza vaccine. This particular association has been one of the most studied presumed vaccine adverse effects of the last decade and it has greatly affected the discussion on vaccine safety and vaccine hesitancy still to this date. Despite several studies having been published investigating the association, no systematic review of these studies had been performed prior to the beginning of this this review

Knowledge synthesis of benefits and adverse effects of measles vaccination: the Lasbela balance sheet

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In preparation for a cluster-randomized controlled trial of a community intervention to increase the demand for measles vaccination in Lasbela district of Pakistan, a balance sheet summarized published evidence on benefits and possible adverse effects of measles vaccination.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The balance sheet listed: 1) major health conditions associated with measles; 2) the risk among the unvaccinated who contract measles; 3) the risk among the vaccinated; 4) the risk difference between vaccinated and unvaccinated; and 5) the likely net gain from vaccination for each condition.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Two models revealed very different projections of net gain from measles vaccine. A Lasbela-specific combination of low period prevalence of measles among the unvaccinated, medium vaccination coverage and low vaccine efficacy rate, as revealed by the baseline survey, resulted in less-than-expected gains attributable to vaccination. Modelled on estimates where the vaccine had greater efficacy, the gains from vaccination would be more substantial.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Specific local conditions probably explain the low rates among the unvaccinated while the high vaccine failure rate is likely due to weaknesses in the vaccination delivery system. Community perception of these realities may have had some role in household decisions about whether to vaccinate, although the major discouraging factor was inadequate access. The balance sheet may be useful as a communication tool in other circumstances, applied to up-to-date local evidence.</p

Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Injury in Chronic Multisymptom Conditions: From Gulf War Illness to Autism Spectrum Disorder

Background: Overlapping chronic multisymptom illnesses (CMI) include Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity, and Gulf War illness (GWI), and subsets of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). GWI entails a more circumscribed set of experiences that may provide insights of relevance to overlapping conditions.&#xd;&#xa;Objectives: To consolidate evidence regarding a role for oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction (OSMD), as primary mediators in CMI, using GWI as a departure point.&#xd;&#xa;Methods: Exposure relations, character, timecourse and multiplicity of symptoms, and objective correlates of GWI are compared to expectation for OSMD. Objective correlates of OSMD in GWI and overlapping conditions are examined. &#xd;&#xa;Discussion: OSMD is an expected consequence of known GWI exposures; is compatible with symptom characteristics observed; and accords with objective markers and health conditions linked to GWI, extending to autoimmune disease and infection. Emergent triangulating evidence directly supports OSMD in multisymptom &#x201c;overlap&#x201d; CMI conditions, with similarities to, and diagnosed at elevated rates in, GWI, suggesting a common role in each. &#xd;&#xa;Conclusions: GWI is compatible with a paradigm by which uncompensated exposure to oxidative/nitrative stressors accompanies and triggers mitochondrial dysfunction, cell energy compromise, and multiple downstream effects such as vulnerability to autoantibodies. This promotes a profile of protean symptoms with variable latency emphasizing but not confined to energy-demanding post-mitotic tissues, according with (and accounting for) known properties of multisystem overlap conditions. This advances understanding of GWI; health conditions attending GWI at elevated rates; and overlap conditions like CFS and ASD, providing prospects for vulnerability assessment, mitigation of progression, treatment, and future prevention &#x2013; with implications germane to additive and excessive environmental oxidative stressor exposures in the civilian setting.&#xd;&#xa

Aspiration During Vaccination: Evidence for SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination

Aspiration has always been performed during intramuscular vaccine injections to ensure that the needle does not puncture one of the blood vessels. However, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, this procedure became debatable. Using an advanced search builder and logical operators, we searched the PubMed database for all articles about aspiration guidelines. The deltoid blood vessels are large and diverse, with potentially dangerous changes occurring in certain groups such as athletes or people with connective tissue diseases. The pharmacokinetics and reported side effects of improperly applied vaccines differ. Some reported vaccine-related injuries, such as subacromial bursitis, can be avoided by using the aspiration technique. We discussed experiments that provide evidence that intravenous administration of mRNA vaccines can cause myopericarditis. Aspiration during vaccination is not technically demanding and does not require much time. Previous arguments against aspiration were based on efforts to make the procedure of vaccinating children less painful. In response to public concern about vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia as a possible side effect, Denmark issued a guideline on mandatory aspiration during vaccination in March 2021. Guidelines vary by country, and there is a need for an updated and globally applicable instruction manual. Countries should carefully document vaccine side effects so that they could be compared between countries that aspirate and those who do not. More focused research experiments are needed to determine the relationship between aspiration and side effects. We propose a randomized study to compare the effectiveness of aspiration

COVID-19 knowledge, attitudes, and vaccine hesitancy in Ethiopia : a community-based cross-sectional study

The current healthcare system’s efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Ethiopia and limit its effects on human lives are being hampered by hesitancy toward the COVID-19 vaccine. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge levels, attitudes, and prevention practices of COVID-19, in the context of the level of vaccine hesitancy with other associated factors in Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional design with mixed-method data sources was employed. It comprised 1361 study participants for the quantitative survey, with randomly selected study participants from the studied community. This was triangulated by a purposively selected sample of 47 key informant interviews and 12 focus group discussions. The study showed that 53.9%, 55.3%, and 44.5% of participants had comprehensive knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding COVID-19 prevention and control, respectively. Similarly, 53.9% and 47.1% of study participants had adequate knowledge and favorable attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine. Only 29.0% of the total survey participants had been vaccinated with at least one dose of vaccine. Of the total study participants, 64.4% were hesitant about receiving the COVID-19 vaccination. The most frequently reported reasons were a lack of trust in the vaccine (21%), doubts regarding the long-term side effects (18.1%), and refusal on religious grounds (13.6%). After adjusting for other confounding factors, geographical living arrangements, the practices of COVID-19 prevention methods, attitudes about the vaccine, vaccination status, perceived community benefit, perceived barriers toward vaccination, and self-efficacy about receiving the vaccine were significantly associated with vaccine hesitancy. Therefore, to improve vaccine coverage and reduce this high level of hesitancy, there should be specifically designed, culturally tailored health education materials and a high level of engagement from politicians, religious leaders, and other community members