scholarly journals Vaccination, politics and COVID-19 impacts

2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Don Albrecht
Keyword(s):  
Health Professionals ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Path Model ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Political Views

AbstractThe development of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines provides a clear path to bring the pandemic to an end. Vaccination rates, however, have been insufficient to prevent disease spread. A critical factor in so many people choosing not to be vaccinated is their political views. In this study, a path model is developed and tested to explore the impacts of political views on vaccination rates and COVID-19 cases and deaths per 100,000 residents in U.S. counties. The data strongly supported the model. In counties with a high percentage of Republican voters, vaccination rates were significantly lower and COVID-19 cases and deaths per 100,000 residents were much higher. Moving forward, it is critical to find ways to overcome political division and rebuild trust in science and health professionals.

scholarly journals Modeling-Based Estimate of the Vaccination Rate, Lockdown Rules and COVID-19

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1245
Author(s):  
Chinlin Guo ◽  
Wei-Chiao Chang
Keyword(s):  
Critical Factor ◽  
Economic Loss ◽  
Vaccination Rate ◽  
Slight Reduction ◽  
High Morbidity ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Simulation Scenario ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Spread Of Infection

COVID-19 has become a severe infectious disease and has caused high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Restriction rules such as quarantine and city lockdown have been implemented to mitigate the spread of infection, leading to significant economic impacts. Fortunately, development and inoculation of COVID-19 vaccines are being conducted on an unprecedented scale. The effectiveness of vaccines raises a hope that city lockdown might not be necessary in the presence of ongoing vaccination, thereby minimizing economic loss. The question, however, is how fast and what type of vaccines should be inoculated to control the disease without limiting economic activity. Here, we set up a simulation scenario of COVID-19 outbreak in a modest city with a population of 2.5 million. The basic reproduction number (R0) was ranging from 1.0 to 5.5. Vaccination rates at 1000/day, 10,000/day and 100,000/day with two types of vaccine (effectiveness v = 51% and 89%) were given. The results indicated that R0 was a critical factor. Neither high vaccination rate (10,000 persons/day) nor high-end vaccine (v = 89%) could control the disease when the scenario was at R0 = 5.5. Unless an extremely high vaccination rate was given (>4% of the entire population/per day), no significant difference was found between two types of vaccine. With the population scaled to 25 million, the required vaccination rate was >1,000,000/day, a quite unrealistic number. Nevertheless, with a slight reduction of R0 from 5 to 3.5, a significant impact of vaccine inoculation on disease control was observed. Thus, our study raised the importance of estimating transmission dynamics of COVID-19 in a city before determining the subsequent policy.

scholarly journals A modeling of a Diphtheria epidemic in the refugees camps

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Torrea ◽  
José Luis Torrea ◽  
Daniel Ortega
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Soviet Union ◽  
Vaccine Coverage ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Epidemic Outbreak ◽  
High Coverage ◽  
Infected People ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
The Soviet Union

AbstractBackgroundDiphtheria has a big mortality rate. Vaccination practically eradicated it in industrialized countries. A decrease in vaccine coverage and public health deterioration cause a reemergence in the Soviet Union in 1990. These circumstances seem to be being reproduced in refugee camps with a potential risk of new outbreak.MethodsWe constructed a mathematical model that describes the evolution of the Soviet Union epidemic outbreak. We use it to evaluate how the epidemic would be modified by changing the rate of vaccination, and improving public health conditions.ResultsWe observe that a small decrease of 15% in vaccine coverage, translates an ascent of 47% in infected people. A coverage increase of 15% and 25% decreases a 44% and 66% respectively of infected people. Just improving health care measures a 5%, infected people decreases a 11.31%. Combining high coverage with public health measures produces a bigger reduction in the amount of infected people compare to amelioration of coverage rate or health measures alone.ConclusionsOur model estimates the evolution of a diphtheria epidemic outbreak. Small increases in vaccination rates and in public health measures can translate into large differences in the evolution of a possible epidemic. These estimates can be helpful in socioeconomic instability, to prevent and control a disease spread.

scholarly journals Control Strategies for the Third wave of COVID-19 infection in India: A Mathematical Model Incorporating Vaccine Effectiveness

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashutosh Mahajan ◽  
Namitha Sivadas ◽  
Pooja Panda
Keyword(s):  
Transmission Rate ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Third Wave ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
New Variant ◽  
The Future

The waning effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines and the emergence of a new variant Omicron has given rise to the possibility of another outbreak of the infection in India. COVID-19 has caused more than 34 million reported cases and 475 thousand deaths in India so far, and it has affected the country at the root level, socially as well as economically. After going through different control measures, mass vaccination has been achieved to a large extent for the highly populous country, and currently under progress. India has already been hit by a massive second wave of infection in April-June, 2021 mainly due to the delta variant, and might see a third wave in the near future that needs to be controlled with effective control strategies. In this paper, we present a compartmental epidemiological model with vaccinations incorporating the dose-dependent effectiveness. We study a possible sudden outbreak of SARS-CoV2 variants in the future, and bring out the associated predictions for various vaccination rates and point out optimum control measures. Our results show that for transmission rate 30% higher than the current rate due to emergence of new variant or relaxation of social distancing conditions, daily new cases can peak to 250k in March 2022, taking the second dose effectiveness dropping to 50% in the future. A combination of vaccination and controlled lockdown or social distancing is the key to tackling the current situation and for the coming few months. Our simulation results show that social distancing measures show better control over the disease spread than the higher vaccination rates. <br>

“You either need help…you feel you don't need help…or you don't feel worthy of asking for it:” Receptivity to bereavement support

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pippa Blackburn ◽  
Caroline Bulsara
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Aboriginal Health ◽  
Bereavement Support ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Provider Perspectives ◽  
Palliative Care Services

AbstractObjectiveAlthough the needs of the bereaved have been identified widely in the literature, how these needs translate into meaningful, appropriate, and client-centered programs needs further exploration. The application of receptivity to support is a critical factor in participation by the bereaved in palliative care bereavement programs. Receptivity is a complex multifactorial phenomenon influenced by internal and external factors that ultimately influences engagement in psychosocial support in bereavement. This study explored factors that influence receptivity to bereavement support from palliative care services in rural, regional, and remote Western Australia.MethodThe study comprised a qualitative descriptive research design using semistructured interviews with 24 bereaved individuals, nine palliative care health professionals, and four Aboriginal Health Professionals. Participants were recruited via palliative care services in country Western Australia. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed.ResultFindings revealed that a range of individual, social, and geographical factors influence receptivity to bereavement support and can impact on utilization of bereavement support services.Significance of resultsReceptivity provides a frame of reference to enhance understanding of factors influencing engagement in psychosocial support in bereavement. Receptivity promotes a shift of service provider perspectives of effective supportive care to consumer-centric reasons for engagement.

scholarly journals Control Strategies for the Third wave of COVID-19 infection in India: A Mathematical Model Incorporating Vaccine Effectiveness

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Namitha A Sivadas ◽  
Ashutosh Mahajan ◽  
Pooja Panda
Keyword(s):  
Transmission Rate ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Third Wave ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
New Variant ◽  
The Future

The waning effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines and the emergence of a new variant Omicron has given rise to the possibility of another outbreak of the infection in India. COVID-19 has caused more than 34 million reported cases and 475 thousand deaths in India so far, and it has affected the country at the root level, socially as well as economically. After going through different control measures, mass vaccination has been achieved to a large extent for the highly populous country, and currently under progress. India has already been hit by a massive second wave of infection in April-June, 2021 mainly due to the delta variant, and might see a third wave in the near future that needs to be controlled with effective control strategies. In this paper, we present a compartmental epidemiological model with vaccinations incorporating the dose-dependent effectiveness. We study a possible sudden outbreak of SARS-CoV2 variants in the future, and bring out the associated predictions for various vaccination rates and point out optimum control measures. Our results show that for transmission rate 30% higher than the current rate due to emergence of new variant or relaxation of social distancing conditions, daily new cases can peak to 250k in March 2022, taking the second dose effectiveness dropping to 50% in the future. Combination of vaccination and controlled lockdown or social distancing is the key to tackling the current situation and for the coming few months. Our simulation results show that social distancing measures show better control over the disease spread than the higher vaccination rates.

scholarly journals Predictors of COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign Success: Lessons Learnt from the Pandemic So Far. A Case Study from Poland

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1153
Author(s):  
Marcin Piotr Walkowiak ◽  
Dariusz Walkowiak
Keyword(s):  
Voter Turnout ◽  
Vaccination Campaign ◽  
Vaccination Rate ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Political Views ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Underlying Causes

The high effectiveness of a vaccination-promotion campaign, which may be measured by the number of those successfully convinced to get vaccinated, is a key factor in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. This, however, appears to be linked to the precise identification of the underlying causes for vaccine hesitancy behaviours. Based on a regression model (adjusted R2 of 0.78) analysing 378 sub-regions of Poland, we showed that such behaviours, even when going against the party agenda, can be indirectly yet precisely gauged predominantly through voting patterns. Additionally, education and population density were found to be positively related to low vaccine hesitancy, while markers of social exclusion, both external (employment rate) and psychological (voter turnout) ones, affected it negatively. In the second, follow-up part of our study, which analyses the changes that took place in two months (adjusted R2 of 0.53), we found a further increase in vaccination rate to be positively related to the number of those already vaccinated and to the political views of the population, and negatively related to its level of education. In both cases, there was a surprisingly weak relationship between the potential markers of accessibility and vaccination rate. In spite of the known overall differences in vaccination rates for different age and sex groups, these variables did not have any additional informative value in explaining the observed regional differences.

scholarly journals Mask Interventions in K12 Schools Can Also Reduce Community Transmission in Fall 2021

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica A. Mele ◽  
Erik Rosenstrom ◽  
Julie Ivy ◽  
Maria Mayorga ◽  
Mehul D Patel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Disease Burden ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
High Quality ◽  
System Planning ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
School Settings ◽  
Community Transmission ◽  
The Impact

The dominance of the COVID-19 Delta variant has renewed questions about the impact of K12 school policies, including the role of masks, on disease burden. A recent study showed masks and testing could reduce infections in students, but failed to address the impact on the community, while another showed masking is critical to slow disease spread in communities, but did not consider school openings under Delta. We project the impact of school-masking on the community, which can inform policy decisions, and support healthcare system planning. Our findings indicate that the implementation of masking policies in school settings can reduce additional infections post-school opening by 23-36% for fully-open schools, with an additional 11-13% reduction for hybrid schooling, depending on mask quality and fit. Masking policies and hybrid schooling can also reduce peak hospitalization need by 71% and result in the fewest additional deaths post-school opening. We show that given the current vaccination rates within the community, the best option for children and the general population is to employ consistent high-quality masking, and use social distancing where possible.

scholarly journals Psychological Determinants of Linguistic Purism: National Identification, Conservatism, and Attitudes to Loanwords

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 365-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karolina Hansen ◽  
Michał Wypych ◽  
Mirosław Bańko ◽  
Michał Bilewicz
Keyword(s):  
Social Identity ◽  
Path Model ◽  
Ethnolinguistic Vitality ◽  
Psychological Determinants ◽  
National Identification ◽  
Political Views ◽  
Linguistic Purism

Aversion to loanwords may express itself in various ways: deliberate and motivated by ideology of linguistic purism or more implicit and motivated by the strength of one’s national identification and ethnolinguistic vitality. A study of Polish philology students assessed their tendency to choose loanwords versus synonymous native words. The results supported a two-path model of linguistic purism. Social identity (strength of identification) directly predicted avoidance of loanwords, whereas ideological concerns (conservative political views) predicted it indirectly, through purist ideology.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Effects of Telepsychotherapy in the Treatment and Prevention of Eating Disorders in Adolescents

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (23) ◽  
pp. 12573
Author(s):  
Marilena Maglia ◽  
Graziana Corello ◽  
Pasquale Caponnetto
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Eating Disorder ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Continuous Training ◽  
Treatment And Prevention ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Information And Communication

According to the WHO definition, “telemedicine is the provision of health services, where distance is a critical factor, by all health professionals who use information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases, research and evaluation, and for the continuous training of health professionals, all in the interest of advancing the health of individuals and their communities”. The purpose of our review work is specifically to investigate the effects of telemedicine in the treatment and prevention of eating disorders in adolescents. From June 2021 to (September 2021) in the databases of the Web of Science, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINHAL, using search terms such as telehealth, eating disorder, adolescents, Internet/online treatments CBT and FB-T, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. The articles resulting from the search phases in the databases listed above produced a total of 176 items. Once the procedures for selecting the works were completed, only four studies were included in the review. Modern e-health psychological approaches in the treatment of eating disorders provide potential bases of continuous assistance that are decidedly less burdensome in the costs of territorial services in the case that they are not identified as necessary.

scholarly journals A model of infection in honeybee colonies with social immunity

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0247294
Author(s):  
Teeraphan Laomettachit ◽  
Monrudee Liangruksa ◽  
Teerasit Termsaithong ◽  
Anuwat Tangthanawatsakul ◽  
Orawan Duangphakdee
Keyword(s):  
Horizontal Transmission ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Social Immunity ◽  
First Line ◽  
Colony Losses ◽  
Social Segregation ◽  
The Social

Honeybees (Apis mellifera) play a significant role in the pollination of various food crops and plants. In the past decades, honeybee management has been challenged with increased pathogen and environmental pressure associating with increased beekeeping costs, having a marked economic impact on the beekeeping industry. Pathogens have been identified as a contributing cause of colony losses. Evidence suggested a possible route of pathogen transmission among bees via oral-oral contacts through trophallaxis. Here we propose a model that describes the transmission of an infection within a colony when bee members engage in the trophallactic activity to distribute nectar. In addition, we examine two important features of social immunity, defined as collective disease defenses organized by honeybee society. First, our model considers the social segregation of worker bees. The segregation limits foragers, which are highly exposed to pathogens during foraging outside the nest, from interacting with bees residing in the inner parts of the nest. Second, our model includes a hygienic response, by which healthy nurse bees exterminate infected bees to mitigate horizontal transmission of the infection to other bee members. We propose that the social segregation forms the first line of defense in reducing the uptake of pathogens into the colony. If the first line of defense fails, the hygienic behavior provides a second mechanism in preventing disease spread. Our study identifies the rate of egg-laying as a critical factor in maintaining the colony’s health against an infection. We propose that winter conditions which cease or reduce the egg-laying activity combined with an infection in early spring can compromise the social immunity defenses and potentially cause colony losses.

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