scholarly journals COVID-19 Pandemic and Equal Access to Vaccines

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 538
Author(s):  
Matteo Bolcato ◽  
Daniele Rodriguez ◽  
Alessandro Feola ◽  
Giulio Di Mizio ◽  
Alessandro Bonsignore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World Health ◽  
Equal Access ◽  
World Population ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Worldwide Distribution ◽  
Adequate Response ◽  
The World ◽  
Entire World ◽  
Health Organization

The COVID-19 pandemic has evidenced the chronic inequality that exists between populations and communities as regards global healthcare. Vaccination, an appropriate tool for the prevention of infection, should be guaranteed by means of proportionate interventions to defeat such inequality in populations and communities affected by a higher risk of infection. Equitable criteria of justice should be identified and applied with respect to access to vaccination and to the order in which it should be administered. This article analyzes, as regards the worldwide distribution of anti-COVID-19 vaccines, the various ways the principle of equity has been construed and applied or even overlooked. The main obstacle to equal access to vaccines is vaccine nationalism. The perception of equity varies with the differing reference values adopted. Adequate response to needs appears to be the principal rule for achieving the criterion of equity in line with distributive justice. Priorities must be set equitably based on rational parameters in accordance with current needs. The entire process must be governed by transparency, from parameter identification to implementation. The issue of equal access to vaccination affects the entire world population, necessitating specific protective interventions. In light of this, the World Health Organization (WHO) has devised the COVAX plan to ensure that even the poorest nations of the world receive the vaccine; certain initiatives are also supported by the European Union (EU). This pandemic has brought to the fore the need to build a culture of equitable relationships both in each country’s own domain and with the rest of the world.

scholarly journals Iodization of table salt and attitudes and habits in relation to the use of salt in general population

2010 ◽  
Vol 138 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 225-229
Author(s):  
Gorica Sbutega-Milosevic ◽  
Zorica Djordjevic ◽  
Zoran Marmut ◽  
Boban Mugosa
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Iodine Content ◽  
World Health ◽  
Nutritional Deficiencies ◽  
World Population ◽  
Table Salt ◽  
Salt Iodization ◽  
The World ◽  
Domestic Use ◽  
Health Organization

Introduction. Combating nutritional deficiencies of micronutrients, such as iodine, represents a priority task of health care organizations. In 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the publication: Global Prevalence of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD), according to which some 2,2 billion people live in areas poor in naturally occurring iodine. Approximately 13% of the world population suffer from goitre - one of the IDD. The recommended iodine content in table salt is 20-40 mg/kg, which should satisfy the daily iodine requirements of an adult. Objective. The authors sought to ascertain whether iodization of table salt in Montenegro was carried out in accordance with the existing legislature. An assessment was also carried out of the attitudes and habits of the population regarding the use of salt in nutrition and the level of awareness in relation to the relevance of table salt iodization. Methods. The research was carried out in 2004 and was sponsored by UNICEF. A sample of 594 homes from the municipalities of Bar and Podgorica was chosen: 354 homes from urban and 240 from rural areas. The participants completed a questionnaire related to the daily use and intake of salt, as well as their understanding of the relevance of table salt iodization. Iodine content was tested in 15 samples of table salt at production level, 170 samples at retail level and 126 samples taken from domestic use. Results. The analysis of table salt samples showed an optimal iodine level in 73.3% of samples from production, in 81.2% from retail, and in 73.0% from domestic use. A lower level of iodine was found in 8.8% retail samples and 15.1% samples from home use. A greater concentration of iodine was found in 26.7% production, 10.0% retail and 11.9% samples from domestic use. Conclusion. Although the application of the WHO programme has led to an improvement in iodization of table salt in Montenegro, both at production and retail levels, this still falls short of the standards recommended by WHO to combat IDD. The levels of iodine in table salt in domestic use also fail to comply with the WHO criteria for elimination of IDD.

Patient Safety Concerns among Emergency Medical Staff and Patients

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-52
Author(s):  
Pi-Fang Hsu ◽  
Wen-Chun Tsai ◽  
Chia-Wen Tsai
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Emergency Departments ◽  
Medical Staff ◽  
World Health ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Perceptions And Attitudes ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Recently, much of the world, including the World Health Organization, the European Union and many North American countries, have emphasized patient safety. Around the same time, Taiwan’s Department of Health (DOH) devoted a significant amount of resources to better the quality of medical treatment for their patients. This study explores perceptions of and attitudes towards patient safety among medical staff and patients in emergency departments. Analysis results indicate that medical staff and patients significantly differ in perceptions and attitudes. Results of this study provide a valuable reference for governmental authorities and hospital managers in formulating policies aimed at clarifying perceptions and attitudes regarding patient safety among medical staff and patients in emergency departments.

scholarly journals The Central Role of Non-Structural Protein 1 (NS1) in Influenza Biology and Infection

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nícia Rosário-Ferreira ◽  
António J. Preto ◽  
Rita Melo ◽  
Irina S. Moreira ◽  
Rui M. M. Brito
Keyword(s):  
Viral Disease ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
World Health ◽  
World Population ◽  
Structural Protein ◽  
Human Respiratory Tract ◽  
Host Interactions ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Influenza (flu) is a contagious viral disease, which targets the human respiratory tract and spreads throughout the world each year. Every year, influenza infects around 10% of the world population and between 290,000 and 650,000 people die from it according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Influenza viruses belong to the Orthomyxoviridae family and have a negative sense eight-segment single-stranded RNA genome that encodes 11 different proteins. The only control over influenza seasonal epidemic outbreaks around the world are vaccines, annually updated according to viral strains in circulation, but, because of high rates of mutation and recurrent genetic assortment, new viral strains of influenza are constantly emerging, increasing the likelihood of pandemics. Vaccination effectiveness is limited, calling for new preventive and therapeutic approaches and a better understanding of the virus–host interactions. In particular, grasping the role of influenza non-structural protein 1 (NS1) and related known interactions in the host cell is pivotal to better understand the mechanisms of virus infection and replication, and thus propose more effective antiviral approaches. In this review, we assess the structure of NS1, its dynamics, and multiple functions and interactions, to highlight the central role of this protein in viral biology and its potential use as an effective therapeutic target to tackle seasonal and pandemic influenza.

scholarly journals Fighting Strategies Against the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic: Impact on Global Economy

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bapi Gorain ◽  
Hira Choudhury ◽  
Nagashekhara Molugulu ◽  
Rajani B. Athawale ◽  
Prashant Kesharwani
Keyword(s):  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
World Health ◽  
World Population ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Short Period ◽  
The World ◽  
Treatment Measures ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

Sudden outbreak of a new pathogen in numbers of pneumonic patients in Wuhan province during December 2019 has threatened the world population within a short period of its occurrence. This respiratory tract–isolated pathogen was initially named as novel coronavirus 2019 (nCoV-2019), but later termed as SARS-CoV-2. The rapid spreading of this infectious disease received the label of pandemic by the World Health Organization within 4 months of its occurrence, which still seeks continuous attention of the researchers to prevent the spread and for cure of the infected patients. The propagation of the disease has been recorded in 215 countries, with more than 25.5 million cases and a death toll of more than 0.85 million. Several measures are taken to control the disease transmission, and researchers are actively engaged in finding suitable therapeutics to effectively control the disease to minimize the mortality and morbidity rates. Several existing potential candidates were explored in the prevention and treatment of worsening condition of COVID-19 patients; however, none of the formulation has been approved for the treatment but used under medical supervision. In this article, a focus has been made to highlight on current epidemiology on the COVID-19 infection, clinical features, diagnosis, and transmission, with special emphasis on treatment measures of the disease at different stages of clinical research and the global economic influence due to this pandemic situation. Progress in the development on vaccine against COVID-19 has also been explored as important measures to immunize people. Moreover, this article is expected to provide information to the researchers, who are constantly combating in the management against this outbreak.

The significance of parasitic infections in terms of clinical disease: a personal view

Parasitology ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 94 (S1) ◽  
pp. S159-S179 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. A. McGregor
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
World Health ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Intestinal Helminths ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Personal View ◽  
Climatic Zones ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Tropics

Throughout the world, infection with parasites is extremely common. Prevalence is highest in the warm countries of the tropics and subtropics, but infection occurs in all climatic zones. The figures usually quoted for the prevalence of specific parasites attain values akin to those used to describe astronomical distances. The World Health Organization (1985) estimated that some 2582 million of the earth's inhabitants live in areas where they risk contracting malaria and that many – in Africa south of the Sahara alone probably 200 million – remain chronically and persistently infected. Estimates for other parasites are similarly impressive; 600 million at risk of infection with schistosomiasis, with some 200 million actually infected; 900 million exposed to lymphatic filarial parasites, with some 90 million currently infected; for onchocerciasis, probably some 40 million cases spread throughout Africa, Central and South America and the Eastern mediterranean. Yet, impressive as these estimates may be, they are dwarfed by those for some intestinal helminths. Recent assessments suggest that 1 person in 4 of the world's population carries Ascaris lumbricoides (Schultz, 1982), while the same proportion is believed to be infected with one or other of the hookworms (Gilman, 1982).

scholarly journals Special aspects of medical care for cancer patients during COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 2-2
Author(s):  
Mariia Pavlushenko ◽  
Roman Liubota ◽  
Roman Vereshchako ◽  
Nikolay Anikusko ◽  
Irina Liubota
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Medical Care ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cancer Therapies ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

The biggest challenge for the World Health Organization today is the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The current situation prompted major adjustments in the system of cancer care. In this review, we investigate the aspects of cancer treatment and care during the pandemic, since in this setting oncological services face challenges in determining the feasibility of anticancer treatments while minimizing the risk of infection. Cancer patients are at a higher risk from COVID-19 disease. Therefore, oncological community is discussing on the priorities for providing cancer therapies and care and at the same time minimizing the risk of infection.

scholarly journals Individuals’response to COVID-19 Restrictions in Europe: A Snapshot of Today and Hopes for Tomorrow

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kutl Ergün
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
World Health ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Psychological Conditions ◽  
The World ◽  
The Future ◽  
Future Expectation ◽  
Self Discovery ◽  
Health Organization

This study presents the individuals' responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering that many institutions and working places were closed due to the pandemic, the possible impact of COVID-19 restrictions on individuals was assessed. The study examined the number and frequencies of respondents in the survey including demographic variables (gender, income), and future expectation on economic situation and psychological conditions. There were 218 individuals from 24 European countries participating in the survey. The percentage of respondents, discovering personal strength (previously unaware of) during restrictions was 40%. This is a high percentage showing that isolation may contribute to self-discovery. Despite annoying restrictions, many individuals expressed their economic optimism for the future. Also, most of the participants stated that they had not enough money during these restrictions. Also, this study shows that trust in governments, the European Union (EU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) was low during the pandemic restrictions. The results of this study might be useful and taken into account for potential future waves of this pandemic and possible new pandemics that may occur in the future.

scholarly journals Nano COVID-19 Vaccines: the firsts RNA lipid nanoparticle vaccines being approved from history - Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. e20191211123
Author(s):  
Thyago José Arruda Pacheco ◽  
Victor Carlos Mello da Silva ◽  
Danielle Galdino de Souza
Keyword(s):  
World Health ◽  
World Population ◽  
Phase 3 ◽  
Vaccine Candidates ◽  
The Third ◽  
The World ◽  
Proven Efficacy ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Collaborative Efforts

A new coronavirus, identified in Wuhan, China, has spread globally, infecting millions of people and causing significant morbidity and mortality. The pandemic state, declared by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020, transformed the world and made people adapt to social distance to control the spread of the virus. The race against time in search of therapeutic solutions has become essential, and nanotechnology may be able to make vaccines available in record time to stimulate the immunization of individuals. Since the beginning of 2020, scientists and companies are rapidly advancing to make vaccine candidates available at a different rate compared to other pandemics that have existed. This review briefly presents the pros and cons of the third generation vaccines, Moderna / NIAID and Pfizer - BioNTech, which are in phase 3 tests, based on lipid RNA nanoparticles. Great collaborative efforts are being invested so that soon the world population will receive doses of vaccines with proven efficacy and enable increased survival, since the pandemic has already caused many irreversible losses.

COVID-19 Facets: Pandemics, Curse and Humanity

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 385-390
Author(s):  
Dushyant Bawiskar ◽  
Pratik Phansopkar ◽  
Ayurva Vilas Gotmare
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
World Health ◽  
Bacillus Calmette Guerin ◽  
Medical Problems ◽  
Variable Effect ◽  
Social Distress ◽  
The World ◽  
Entire World ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

We are in the middle of an unprecedented pandemic named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO) which is caused by a novel coronavirus. The novelty of the virus and its disease is so new that the entire world is experiencing its consequences on various aspects. The pandemic is still unfolding and creating some new patterns around us. Besides the buzzword, that is, the vaccine is far from our sight. So naturally, we have to look for existing solutions if they can be implemented until the vaccine arrives. From Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to Bacillus Calmette Guèrin (BCG) all are being used in trials whether they can be pre-vaccine medicine or not. The variable effect on individual sections of the population has to be studied to deliver a targeted response, especially in resource lacking countries. In addition to these medical problems like social distress and quarantine measures which are taking a toll on people's minds, another unwarranted problem of Infodemic has struck us. So, this paper will review the ongoing steps and challenges and how we can efficiently respond to them to conquer this pandemic.

Opinion of the Polish Paediatric Dentistry Association (PTSD), Section of Paediatric Dentistry of the Polish Dental Association, Polish Branch of Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future (ACFF) and the National Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry concerning preventive dental recommendations for patients with disabilities

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karolina Gerreth ◽  
Dorota Olczak-Kowalczyk ◽  
Maria Borysewicz-Lewicka
Keyword(s):  
Dental Caries ◽  
Dental Treatment ◽  
Dental Health ◽  
Paediatric Dentistry ◽  
World Health ◽  
World Population ◽  
Treatment Needs ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

The problem of treatment of patients with special health needs resulting from the presence of deficits in intellectual, motor or sensory functions, also in dentistry, has not been comprehensively solved. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 15% of the world population has some form of disability. Patients with disabilities are considered to have greater dental treatment needs in comparison to healthy individuals. High incidence and intensity of dental caries as well as frequent gum diseases are observed in this environment. Often the situation is related, among other, to the presence of systemic diseases and the treatment used, limitations in shaping proper dental health behaviors, insufficient knowledge of parents about oral health or barriers in access to dental care. The development of recommendations for parents/caregivers as well as medical staff is required to improve the health of these patients and quality of their life. The document contains information on the etiology and epidemiology of dental caries in patients with disabilities but also prophylactic recommendations for this population of patients and their parents/caregivers and dentists.

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