Students as Community Vaccinators: Implementation of a Service-Learning COVID-19 Vaccination Program

Background: Service-learning is an integral component of medical education. While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused massive educational disruptions, it has also catalyzed innovation in service-learning as real-time responses to pandemic-related problems. For example, the limited number of qualified providers was a potential barrier to local and national SARS-CoV-2 vaccination efforts. Foreseeing this hurdle, New York State temporarily allowed healthcare professional trainees to vaccinate, enabling medical students to support an overwhelmed healthcare system and contribute to the community. Yet, it was the responsibility of medical schools to interpret these rules and implement the vaccination programs. Here the authors describe a service-learning vaccination program directed towards underserved communities. Methods: Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM) rapidly developed a faculty-led curriculum to prepare students to communicate with patients about the COVID-19 vaccines and to administer intramuscular injections. Qualified students were deployed to public vaccination clinics located in underserved neighborhoods across New York City in collaboration with an established community partner. The educational value of the program was evaluated with retrospective survey. Results: Throughout the program, which lasted from February to June 2021, 128 WCM students worked at 103 local events, helping to administer 26,889 vaccine doses. Analysis of student evaluations revealed this program taught fundamental clinical skills, increasing comfort giving intramuscular injection from 2% to 100% and increasing comfort talking to patients about the COVID-19 vaccine from 30% to 100%. Qualitatively participants described the program as a transformative service-learning experience. Conclusion: As new virus variants emerge, nations battle recurrent waves of infection, and vaccine eligibility expands to include children and boosters, the need for effective vaccination plans continues to grow. The program described here offers a novel framework that academic medical centers could adapt to increase vaccine access in their local community and provide students with a uniquely meaningful educational experience.

Edukasi: Peningkatan Pengetahuan Masyarakat tentang Vaksinasi Covid-19 di Dusun Tempit Desa Bajur Lombok Barat

ABSTRAK Vaksin Covid-19 merupakan bentuk pencegahan yang berfungsi mendorong pembentukan kekebalan tubuh sfesifik pada penyakit covid 19 agar terhindar dari tertular atau memungkinkan sakit berat. Sekitar 7,6 persen masyarakat yang menolak untuk divaksinasi dan 26,6 persen masyarakat belum memutuskan dan masih kebingungan untuk melakukan vaksinasi, sehingga diperlukan adanya edukasi kesehatan tentang vaksin Covid-19. Tujuan setelah dilakukan pendidikan kesehatan, diharapkan dapat meningkatkan pengetahuan dan pemahaman masyarakat tentang penyakit Covid-19, cara pencegahannya dan pemahaman tentang program vaksinasi Covid-19 di dusun tempit desa bajur lombok barat.. Adapun kegiatan yang dilakukan berupa kegiatan edukasi menggunakan LCD untuk penyampaian materi dan peserta diberikan leaflet. Terdapat peningkatan pengetahuan dan pemahaman masyarakat tentang program vaksinasi covid-19 dari 60% menjadi 90%. Kata Kunci: Covid-19, Vaksinasi, Penyuluhan ABSTRACT A Covid-19 vaccine is a form of prevention that functions to encourage the formation of specific immunity for COVID-19 disease to avoid contracting or allowing serious illness. Around 7.6 percent of the people refuse to be vaccinated and 26.6 percent of the people have not decided and are still confused about getting vaccinated, so health education about the Covid-19 vaccine is needed. The goal after health education is carried out is that it is expected to increase public knowledge and understanding of the Covid-19 disease, how to prevent it, and understanding of the Covid-19 vaccination program in the tempest hamlet, Bajur Village, West Lombok. The activities carried out are in the form of educational activities using LCD to deliver material and participants were given leaflets. There is an increase in public knowledge and understanding of the covid-19 vaccination program from 60% to 90%. Keywords: Covid-19, vaccination, Counseling

Global Perspective of COVID-19 Vaccine Nationalism

This study aimed to explore the global perspective of the association between GDP of various countries and progress of COVID-19 vaccinations; to explore how the global pattern holds in the continents, and investigate the spatial distribution pattern of COVID-19 vaccination progress for all countries. We have used consolidated data on COVID-19 vaccination and GDP from Our World in Data, an open-access data source. Data analysis and visualization were performed in R-Studio. There was a strong linear association between per capita income and the proportion of people vaccinated in countries with one million or more populations. GDP per capita accounts for a 50% variation in the vaccination rate across the nations. Our assessments revealed that the global pattern holds in every continent. Rich European and North-American countries are most protected against COVID-19. Less developed African countries barely initiated the vaccination program. There is a significant disparity among Asian countries. The security of wealthier nations (vac-cinated their citizens) cannot be guaranteed unless adequate vaccination covers the less-endowed countries. Therefore, the global community should take initiatives to speed up the COVID-19 vaccination program in all countries of the world, irrespective of their wealth. Keywords: COVID-19 vaccination; GDP; public health, high-income countries, developing coun-tries

Predisposing Faktor yang Berhubungan dengan Penerimaan Program Vaksinasi Covid-19 pada Masyarakat

Background: Acceptance of the Covid-19 vaccine is a challenge in the success of the Covid-19 vaccination program. Objective: This study aims to achieve herd immunity and to analyze predisposing factors (age, gender, knowledge, and belief in the Covid-19 vaccine) in the community in the Alang Alang Lebar Community Health Center Work Area. Methods: This type of research is a quantitative study using a cross-sectional study. The population in this study is people who live in Talang Ke-lapa Village and Alang Alang Lebar Village aged 18-60 years, a sample of 211 people with the determination of the sample using the Proportionate Stratified Random Sampling technique, the data were analyzed univariately and bivariate. Results: The research conducted showed that there was a significant relationship between knowledge (p-value = 0.041) and trust in the Covid-19 vaccine (p-value = 0.000) and acceptance of the Covid-19 vaccination program. Meanwhile, the age variable (p=0.739) and the gender variable (p=0.838) had no relationship with the acceptance of the Covid-19 vaccination program. Conclusion: Efforts are needed to increase access to information related to Covid-19 vaccination so that people believe in the Covid-19 vaccine so that public acceptance of the Covid-19 vaccination program increases in the Alang Alang Lebar Health Center Work Area.

COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance among Healthcare Workers and General Population at the Very Beginning of the National Vaccination Program in Poland: A Cross-Sectional, Exploratory Study

The aim of the study was to assess the acceptance level of COVID-19 vaccination among healthcare workers (HCW) and the general population in Poland at the start of the national COVID-19 vaccination program from 18–31 December 2020. A cross-sectional anonymous survey was conducted in a group of 1976 people: 1042 health professionals and 934 non-medical professionals using an on-line questionnaire. The most skeptical about the COVID-19 vaccine were students of non-medical faculties, non-medical professions, and administrative–technical health service staff (26.2%, 38.7% and 41.2%, respectively). The most positive attitude to vaccination was reported by doctors, medical students and pharmacists (80.6%, 76.9% and 65.7%, respectively). Doctors (64.7%) and medical students (63.7%) most often declared confidence in vaccines compared to nurses (34.5%). Distrust about vaccine safety was declared by nurses (46.6%) and pharmacists (40.0%). HCW encouraged others to vaccinate more eagerly (65.8%) than non-medical professions (28.3%). Thus, a considerable proportion of HCW in Poland expressed concern about vaccines just prior to the beginning of the COVID-19 immunization program. The significant decrease in the willingness to vaccinate observed in Poland towards the end of 2021 must be considered in the light of the serious COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy in the Polish population.

Evaluasi program sosialisasi vaksinasi covid-19 melalui media sosial

One of the evaluation parameters that can measure the effectiveness of socialization programs through social media is citizen engagement, namely public involvement in important or essential problems on social media. This evaluation was conducted to analyze the effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccination socialization program through social media. The object of the evaluation is the netizen conversations on Twitter in the form of messages, statuses, or tweets that mention the keyword 'COVID-19 Vaccine' on social media. The effectiveness criteria of the socialization program were based on the citizen engagement index or the citizen involvement index which is examined from the netizen opinions on sentiment (positive/negative) and emotion (trust/fear) indicators. The evaluation results show that the socialization program has succeeded in increasing positive sentiment and emotions of trust. Positive sentiment was shown by netizens' opinions, which were dominated by posts that supported and accepted the vaccination program. Emotion of trust was dominated by the trust and acceptance posts. This finding, when confirmed with facts in the community, indicates a conformity. The public has supported, approved, trusted and accepted the Covid-19 vaccination.Salah satu parameter evaluasi yang dapat mengukur keefektifan program sosialisasi melalui media sosial adalah citizen engagement, yaitu keterlibatan publik terhadap suatu problematika penting atau yang dianggap penting di media sosial. Evaluasi ini dilakukan untuk menganalisis keefektifan program sosialisasi vaksinasi Covid-19 melalui media sosial. Objek evaluasi adalah percakapan warganet di Twitter baik berupa pesan, status, maupun tweet yang menyebutkan kata kunci ‘Vaksin COVID-19’ di media sosial. Kriteria keefektifan program sosialisasi mengacu kepada citizen engagement index atau indeks keterlibatan warganet yang dianalisis dari opini warganet pada indikator sentimen (positif/negative) dan emosi (trust/fear). Hasil evaluasi menunjukkan Program sosialisasi berhasil meningkatkan sentiment positif dan emosi trust. Sentimen positif ditunjukkan opini warganet yang didominasi unggahan mendukung dan menyetujui vaksinasi. Emosi trust, didominasi oleh unggahan rasa percaya dan menerima. Temuan ini apabila dikonfirmasi dengan fakta di masyarakat, mengindikasikan adanya kesesuaian. Masyarakat telah mendukung, menyetujui, percaya, dan menerima vaksinasi Covid-19.

Analysis of implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination program for midwives in Banyumas regency in 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has paralyzed the health system, including the puskesmas, so concrete steps are needed for prevention, one of which is through vaccination. The COVID-19 vaccination is a program that is carried out in stages with health workers being the priority target. Banyumas Regency is an area in Jawa Tengah Province that has been affected by COVID-19 with four puskesmas closing their services due to the large number of health workers with COVID-19. Vaccine quotas in Banyumas Regency are often short, thus affecting the implementation of the vaccination program. The implementation model shows that there are four variables that play a role in the success of the program, namely communication, resources, disposition, and bureaucracy. The aim of this research is to analyze the implementation of the COVID19 vaccination program at the puskesmas in the working area of the Dinas Kesehatan Kabupaten Banyumas. This research is a qualitative research with the main informants were from the four puskesmas with the most affected by COVID-19 and the puskesmas with the highest number of midwives, and with triangulation informants were the vaccination program’s coordinator at the puskesmas, the head of the puskesmas and the vaccination program’s coordinator at the Dinas Kesehatan Kabupaten Banyumas. The results obtained were on the communication factor, the main informant received information from the health office. On the resource factor, the main informants felt that the human resources involved were sufficient, competent, and involved cross-sectoral collaboration, and always complied with SOPs. On the disposition factor, both main and triangulation informants agreed on the COVID-19 vaccination program for midwives despite the obstacles. Meanwhile, due to the bureaucratic factor, the main informant stated that the SOPs was complete and had been implemented accordingly.