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Background: The vaccine supply chain (VSC) integrates all activities from production to dispensing, characterized by complexity and low responsiveness. This study aims to define key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate the logistic and operational performance during the COVID-19 National Vaccination Plan in Colombia. Methods: This study employed the design science research (DSR) methodology to develop a dashboard for monitoring COVID-19 vaccination progress. DSR is a problem-solving paradigm focused on conceiving, testing, and evaluating artifacts to tackle specific challenges. The dashboard integrated a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that incorporated three dimensions: epidemiological, humanitarian, and logistical. Both, the dashboard and the KPIs underwent validation through three iterative DSR cycles, in collaboration with both private and public health stakeholders. Results: A set of 38 validated KPIs, grouped into eight categories, was consolidated into an online dashboard. This tool enabled real-time tracking of the National Vaccination Plan at both national and departmental levels, providing stakeholders with a comprehensive view of the vaccine supply chain. It also allowed for the assessment and comparison of the execution and effectiveness of public policies. Conclusions: These KPIs supported decision-making from a logistical standpoint, enhancing the planning, preparation, and continuous improvement of mass vaccination processes, thereby increasing their potential impact even further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) poses a significant challenge in the global swine industry, leading to substantial economic losses and reproductive and respiratory complications. The causative agent, PRRS virus (PRRSV), with its high mutation rate, complicates the development of universally effective vaccines. Furthermore, current PRRS vaccines are limited by high costs and complex administration methods. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to develop an innovative Bacillus subtilis spore-based oral vaccine targeting PRRS. Their oral administration was evaluated in mice and pigs, and blood, saliva, feces, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples were collected for further analyses. Our vaccine induced IgG and IgA immune responses in both models, with swine demonstrating considerable increase in specific antibody and cytokine levels. These results indicate a high potential for more effective and economically viable control of PRRS in commercial pig farming. The ease of administration and cost-effectiveness of the vaccine also offer a feasible option for widespread application. Our results suggest a new direction in veterinary vaccine development, underscoring the potential of B. subtilis spores in creating effective vaccines for large-scale, real-world applications in animal health management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination has been strongly recommended and advocated to prevent COVID-19 infection and adverse outcomes, particularly among at-risk populations. The vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 (COVAC) occurred at off-site locations capable of accommodating large crowds, distinct from the hospital setting, where a team of intensivists, emergency physicians, and nurses, ensuring prompt medical attention (medical occurrences, MO) in cases of adverse event following immunization. Our aims were to estimate the incidence of MO, and to assess its association with demographics, and vaccine characteristics. Our retrospective cohort study included all subject aged 12 years and older who received vaccinations at two large out-of-hospital vaccination hubs (Fiera Milano City, Palazzo delle Scintille), between April 12th and August 31st, 2021. Nine hundred and ninety-five thousand and twenty-eight vaccinations were administrated. MOs incidence rate was 278/100,000 doses (95% confidence interval (CI) 268–289). Most MOs were mild (86.27%) and mainly observed in subjects who received the Comirnaty vaccine; 92 MOs (3.32%) were severe and mostly occurred in recipients of the Vaxzeria vaccine. The incidence rate for hospital transfers following vaccination was 4.7/100,000 doses (95% CI 3.5–6.2) and any level of anaphylaxis occurred in 0.4 cases per 100,000 administrated doses (95% CI 0.3.–0.7). Sex, age, type of vaccine and first dose were associated with incidence of MO. Our results showed a low incidence rate in MOs after COVAC, mainly mild and support the feasibility, effectiveness and safety of vaccinations administered in hubs with a dedicated SEU located outside of the hospital setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Infectious disease outbreaks are an ongoing public health concern, requiring extensive resources to prevent and manage. Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD) is a severe outcome of infection with Neisseria meningitidis bacteria, which can be carried and transmitted asymptomatically. IMD is not completely vaccine-preventable, presenting an ongoing risk of outbreak development. This review provides a retrospective assessment of public health management of IMD outbreaks. Methods: A systematic search was performed in PubMed and EMBASE. English-language studies reporting on IMD outbreaks and associated public health response were considered eligible. Reporting on key characteristics including outbreak size, duration, location, and public health response were assessed against Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology guidelines. A summary of lessons learned and author recommendations for each article were also discussed. Results: 39 eligible studies were identified, describing 35 outbreaks in seven regions. Responses to outbreaks were mostly reactive, involving whole communities over prioritising those at highest risk of transmission. Recent responses identified a need for more proactive and targeted controls. Reporting was inconsistent, with key characteristics such as outbreak size, duration, or response absent or incompletely described. Conclusion: There is a need for clear, comprehensive reporting on IMD outbreaks and their public health response to inform policy and practice for subsequent outbreaks of IMD and other infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The key aim of this research is to demonstrate how a discrete-event simulation model and the simulation-based optimization model could help organizers of the mass vaccination distribution site better understand the system dynamics and make effective data-driven decisions. The proposed simulation model was developed based on empirical data collected during the COVID-19 drive-through vaccination events and insights provided by the system experts. Both the simulation and the simulation-based optimization models are found to be effective in helping the COVID-19 drive-through events’ decisionmakers by providing information on how their system would respond over time under various scenarios leading to more informed and systematic decisions about the process and resource management. The model could easily be extended and reused for any other drive-through mass vaccination facilities in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is associated with several acute and long-term complications and vaccination is the cornerstone of prevention. A recent outbreak in Gulu, Uganda, one of the districts covered by a mass vaccination campaign, suggests low uptake of HBV vaccination. This study aims to determine the uptake and completion of HBV vaccination and associated factors among residents of Gulu, Uganda. Methods: A mixed methods cross-sectional study was conducted in Gulu, Northern Uganda, among 434 adult residents. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographics, perceptions, and knowledge of HBV vaccination. Modified Poisson regression analysis was used in STATA 14 software to obtain prevalence ratios for the association between the independent and dependent variables. For qualitative data, 9 key informant interviews were conducted and thematic analysis was done using Quirkos software. Results: Out of the 434 respondents, 41.9% had received at least one dose of the hepatitis B vaccine, 32.5% had received at least 2 doses, and only 20% had completed all 3 doses, with an overall completion rate of 47.8% for participants who had been initiated on the vaccine. Gender, residence, risk perception of Hepatitis B infection, perceived safety of the vaccine, and awareness of mass vaccination were associated with uptake of Hepatitis B vaccination. Residence, knowledge, and perception of being at risk of acquiring Hepatitis B were associated with completion. Qualitative results revealed that the levels of uptake and completion could have been affected by access to vaccination sites; inadequate knowledge about the disease; myths about the vaccine and inadequate community engagement. Conclusion: Low Hepatitis B vaccine uptake and completion rates were observed in Gulu. To enhance vaccination coverage, future initiatives should prioritize awareness, education, and dispelling of vaccination myths. Additionally, increased government investment in training health workers can serve as a valuable strategy to improve information dissemination and awareness among the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Novel oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) type 2 (nOPV2) has been made available for outbreak response under an emergency use listing authorization based on supportive clinical trial data. Since 2021 more than 350 million doses of nOPV2 were used for control of a large outbreak of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in Nigeria. Methods Using a bayesian time-series susceptible-infectious-recovered model, we evaluate the field effectiveness of nOPV2 immunization campaigns in Nigeria compared with campaigns using monovalent OPV type 2 (mOPV2). Results We found that both nOPV2 and mOPV2 campaigns were highly effective in reducing transmission of cVDPV2, on average reducing the susceptible population by 42% (95% confidence interval, 28–54%) and 38% (20–51%) per campaign, respectively, which were indistinguishable from each other in this analysis (relative effect, 1.1 [.7–1.9]). Impact was found to vary across areas and between immunization campaigns. Conclusions These results are consistent with the comparable individual immunogenicity of nOPV2 and mOPV2 found in clinical trials but also suggest that outbreak response campaigns may have small impacts in some areas requiring more campaigns than are suggested in current outbreak response procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To effectively promote vaccine uptake, it is important to understand which people are most and least inclined to be vaccinated and why. In this study, we examined predictors of COVID-19 vaccine uptake and reasons for non-vaccination. Methods: We conducted an online English-language survey study in December-2020, January-2021, and March-2021. A total of 930 US respondents completed all surveys. Multiple logistic regression models were run to test whether the early vaccine eligibility, demographic factors, and psychological factors predict getting at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination in January-2021 and in March-2021. Results: The proportion of respondents who received ≥ 1-dose of a COVID-19 vaccine increased from 18% (January) to 67% (March). Older age predicted vaccine uptake in January (OR = 2.02[95%CI = 1.14–3.78], p <.001) and March (10.92[6.76–18.05], p <.001). In January, additional predictors were higher numeracy (1.48[1.20–1.86], p <.001), COVID-19 risk perceptions (1.35[1.03–1.78], p =.029), and believing it is important adults get the COVID-19 vaccine (1.66[1.05–2.66], p =.033). In March, additional predictors of uptake were believing it is important adults get the COVID-19 vaccine (1.63[1.15–2.34], p =.006), prior COVID-19 vaccine intentions (1.37[1.10–1.72], p =.006), and belief in science (0.84[0.72–0.99], p =.041). Concerns about side effects and the development process were the most common reasons for non-vaccination. Unvaccinated respondents with no interest in getting a COVID-19 vaccine were younger (0.27[0.09–0.77], p =.016), held negative views about COVID-19 vaccines for adults (0.15[0.08–0.26], p <.001), had lower trust in healthcare (0.59[0.36–0.95], p =.032), and preferred to watch and wait in clinically ambiguous medical situations (0.66[0.48–0.89], p =.007). Conclusions: Evidence that attitudes and intentions towards COVID-19 vaccines were important predictors of uptake provides validation for studies using these measures and reinforces the need to develop strategies for addressing safety and development concerns which remain at the forefront of vaccine hesitancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) presents economic challenges in enzootic countries impacting small ruminant productivity. The state of Karnataka, India, implemented a mass vaccination campaign in alignment with the PPR-Global Eradication Programme (GEP) and the National Strategic Plan for PPR eradication. This study was conducted from January to March 2023 to assess seroconversion in post-vaccinated goats and sheep at the epidemiological unit (epi-unit) level, aligning with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) guidelines in the PPR Global Control and Eradication Strategy (GCES). Before vaccination, 3466 random serum samples were collected from small ruminants of three age groups (6–12 months, 1–2 years, and >2 years) across 116 epi-units, spanning 82 taluks in 28 districts. Post-vaccination sero-monitoring included 1102 serum samples collected from small ruminants of the 6–12-month age group only, across 111 epi-units covering 64 taluks in 23 districts. The PPRV antibody status was determined using an indigenous hemagglutinin (H) protein monoclonal antibody-based competitive ELISA kit. Pre-vaccination, the PPR seropositivity rates were 55%, 62%, and 66% in the age groups of 6–12 months, 1–2 years, and >2 years, respectively, with a 61% PPRV antibody prevalence across all the age groups. Notably, 41% of the epi-units exhibited antibody prevalence rates of ≥70%, indicating a substantial population immunity, possibly attributed to the previous vaccination program in the state since 2011. In contrast, only 17% of the epi-units had below 30% seroprevalence rates, emphasizing the need for intensified vaccination. Statistical analysis of the data revealed significant correlations (p < 0.05) between the presence of PPRV antibodies and host factors such as species, breed, and sex. Post-vaccination seroprevalence in the 6–12 months age group was found to be 73.4%, indicating the use of an efficacious vaccine. On the evaluation of vaccination immunity in the 6–12 months age group, it was revealed that over 69% of the epi-units achieved a response surpassing ≥70%, indicating a significant improvement from 42% of the epi-units in pre-vaccination. For active PPR eradication, a mass vaccination campaign (>95% coverage) targeting small ruminant populations aged >4 months is advocated, aiming to achieve the desired herd immunity of >80%. This study offers crucial insights into PPR baseline seroprevalence/immunity status and vaccine efficacy, guiding national strategies towards a PPR-free India and further supporting the global eradication initiative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In 2021, Thailand reported the highest incidence of lumpy skin disease (LSD) outbreaks in Asia. In response to the widespread outbreaks in cattle herds, the government's livestock authorities initiated comprehensive intervention measures, encompassing control strategies and a national vaccination program. Yet, the efficacy of these interventions remained unevaluated. This research sought to assess the nationwide intervention's impact on the incidence of new LSD cases through causal impact analysis. Methods: Data on weekly new LSD cases in Thailand from March to September 2021 was analyzed. The Bayesian structural time series (BSTS) analysis was employed to evaluate the causal relationship between new LSD cases in the pre-intervention phase (prior to the vaccination campaign) and the post-intervention phase (following the vaccination campaign). The assessment involved two distinct scenarios, each determined by the estimated effective intervention dates. In both scenarios, a consistent decline in new LSD cases was observed after the mass vaccination initiative, while other control measures such as the restriction of animal movement, insect control, and the enhancement of the active surveillance approach remained operational throughout the pre-intervention and the post-intervention phases. Results and discussion: According to the relative effect results obtained from scenario A and B, it was observed that the incidence of LSD cases exhibited reductions of 119% (95% Credible interval [CrI]: -121%, -38%) and 78% (95% CrI: -126, -41%), respectively. The BSTS results underscored the significant influence of these interventions, with a Bayesian one-sided tail-area probability of p < 0.05. This model-based study provides insight into the application of BSTS in evaluating the impact of nationwide LSD vaccination based on the national-level data. The present study is groundbreaking in two respects: it is the first study to quantify the causal effects of a mass vaccination intervention on the LSD outbreak in Thailand, and it stands as the only endeavor of its kind in the Asian context. The insights collected from this study hold potential value for policymakers in Thailand and other countries at risk of LSD outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In France, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage is low, with 30.7% of 17-year-old girls having received a complete HPV vaccination schedule in 2020. Aim: To determine the perspective and behaviors of general practitioners (GPs) regarding HPV vaccination with their patients and if a reluctance is observed. Design and setting: A qualitative study based on semi-directed individual interviews was conducted between December 2019 and December 2020. A representative sample of GPs with various profiles were included in 4 French regions. Method: A purposive sampling was used and interviews were continued until data saturation was reached. The analysis was based on the grounded theory. Results: Twenty-six GPs aged 29–66 years were interviewed. The measures taken by the French health authorities (lowering the target age, reimbursing the vaccine, extending the target population to boys) were perceived as facilitators. The reported barriers were organizational, due to low attendance of adolescents, and relational, mainly due to parental vaccine hesitancy. Physicians had to deal with fears about the perceived risks and concerns about sexuality conveyed by HPV vaccination and linked to the socio-cultural characteristics of the families. Physicians developed strategies, including scientific knowledge mobilization, empowerment of families by promoting health through prevention, repetition of the vaccination proposals, personal experience and relationship. Different practices were identified according to three GP typologies: effective, convinced but unpersuasive, and reluctant physicians. Conclusion: Based on these results, specific interventions, including communication techniques, especially for hesitant or unpersuasive physicians, are needed to enable GPs to become more effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present formal and informal volunteers' perceived experiences of a mass vaccination clinic for COVID‐19 in central Texas. Volunteers at one or more of our team's vaccination events responded to an anonymous survey to share perceptions of their preparedness, training experiences, communication effectiveness and satisfaction, to help us identify opportunities to improve volunteer training and engagement for responses to pandemics. Overall, the volunteers perceived their work to be meaningful, felt prepared and were satisfied with their experiences as volunteers. A dedicated team that communicates well and emphasizes a team approach is key to success, especially in unprecedented situations such as the COVID‐19 pandemic. Implications for future volunteer training and involvement in disaster responses are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The reluctance to be vaccinated against COVID-19 has significantly curbed vaccine uptake. Unlike mass vaccination centers, general practitioners (GPs) might be able to address some of the patients' concerns through their long-term doctor-patient relationship. This study compared vaccination reasons, concerns and skepticism about vaccination, and perceived importance of the vaccine and its hypothetical value between vaccination centers and GP practices.Methods: A survey was distributed (07/2021-10/2021) among newly vaccinated individuals in ten GP practices (n = 364) and two vaccine centers (n = 474).Results: Participants in vaccine centers stated more prosocial and benefit-oriented reasons for vaccination, whereas participants in GP practices more often stated the GP's recommendation as the reason. Perceived importance of the vaccine in combating the pandemic was rated higher among individuals at vaccine centers and with higher health awareness and self-efficacy. Participants at both types of sites who preferred a GP for vaccination expressed more vaccination skepticism, which was also related to older age, more health risk concerns related to COVID-19 vaccines, and lower perceived importance of the vaccine.Conclusion: Our results indicate opportunities for framing future vaccination campaigns that include vaccination centers. Additionally, a rapid GP involvement in future mass vaccinations might be crucial for overcoming attitudinal barriers and achieving higher vaccine uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempts to develop the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) with biogeography-based optimization (BBO) (ANFIS-BBO) for a case study of the actual number of COVID-19 vaccinations in a medical center, considering the variables of the date and time of vaccination, the brand of vaccine, and the number of open appointments on the government network platform in Taiwan. The COVID-19 has brought about a great burden on the health and economy of the world since the end of 2019. Many scholars have proposed a prediction model for the number of confirmed cases and deaths. However, there is still a lack of research in the prediction model for mass vaccination. In this study, ANFIS-BBO is developed to predict the number of COVID-19 vaccination, and three other forecasting models, support vector machines (SVM), least-square support vector machines (LSSVM) and general regression neural network (GRNN) are employed for forecasting the same data sets. Empirical results show that the ANFIS-BBO with trapezoidal membership function model can achieve better performance than other methods and provide robust predictions for the actual number of COVID-19 mass vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the unequivocal benefits of vaccination, vaccine coverage has been falling in several countries in the past few years. Studies suggest that vaccine hesitancy is an increasingly significant phenomenon affecting adherence to vaccines. More recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, political views have emerged as an additional influencing factor for vaccine hesitancy. Methods: In this ecologic study, we used information from publicly available databases to investigate the association between political ideology, depicted by the percentage of votes for the right-wing candidate Jair Bolsonaro in the presidential elections of 2018 and 2022, and COVID-19 vaccination in Brazilian municipalities. The primary endpoint was the COVID-19 vaccination index, calculated as the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered up to September 2022 divided by the number of inhabitants in each municipality. The analysis was conducted using Pearson correlation coefficients and linear regression models adjusted for HDI, the percentage of male voters, the percentage of voters who were older than 50 years old, and the percentage of voters with a middle school education or less. In addition, we explored whether the effect of the percentage of Bolsonaro voters on the COVID-19 vaccination index was modified in different quartiles of HDI using an interaction term. Results: Five thousand five hundred sixty-three Brazilian municipalities were included in the analysis. For both the 2018 and 2022 elections, the percentage of votes for Jair Bolsonaro was significantly and inversely associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake after adjustment for the sociodemographic characteristics of the voters (change in mean vaccination index in 2018 for each 1% increase in Bolsonaro voters -0.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.13 to -0.08, p < 0.001; change in mean vaccination index in 2022 for each 1% increase in Bolsonaro voters -0.09, 95% CI -0.11 to -0.07, p < 0.001). We also found a statistically significant interaction between the primary predictor of interest and HDI scores, with a more significantly detrimental effect of the right-wing political stance in municipalities in the lower HDI quartiles (interaction p < 0.001 for the first HDI quartile; p = 0.001 for the second HDI quartile). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that political ideologies have influenced COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Brazilian municipalities, affecting communities inequitably. The politicization of vaccines is a new challenge for vaccine programs. Strategies to face these challenges should include joint efforts from governments and civil society for a common public health goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccination is an effective measure to prevent infectious diseases. Protective immunity is induced when the immune system is exposed to a vaccine formulation with appropriate immunogenicity. However, traditional injection vaccination is always accompanied by fear and severe pain. As an emerging vaccine delivery tool, microneedles overcome the problems associated with routine needle vaccination, which can effectively deliver vaccines rich in antigen-presenting cells (APCs) to the epidermis and dermis painlessly, inducing a strong immune response. In addition, microneedles have the advantages of avoiding cold chain storage and have the flexibility of self-operation, which can solve the logistics and delivery obstacles of vaccines, covering the vaccination of the special population more easily and conveniently. Examples include people in rural areas with restricted vaccine storage facilities and medical professionals, elderly and disabled people with limited mobility, infants and young children afraid of pain. Currently, in the late stage of fighting against COVID-19, the main task is to increase the coverage of vaccines, especially for special populations. To address this challenge, microneedle-based vaccines have great potential to increase global vaccination rates and save many lives. This review describes the current progress of microneedles as a vaccine delivery system and its prospects in achieving mass vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To manage mass vaccination without impacting medical resources dedicated to care, we proposed a new model of Mass Vaccination Centers (MVC) functioning with minimum attending staffing requirements. The MVC was under the supervision of one medical coordinator, one nurse coordinator, and one operational coordinator. Students provided much of the other clinical support. Healthcare students were involved in medical and pharmaceutical tasks, while non-health students performed administrative and logistical tasks. We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study to describe data concerning the vaccinated population within the MVC and the number and type of vaccines used. A patient satisfaction questionnaire was collected to determine patient perception of the vaccination experience. From 28 March to 20 October 2021, 501,714 vaccines were administered at the MVC. A mean rate of 2951 ± 1804 doses were injected per day with a staff of 180 ± 95 persons working every day. At peak, 10,095 injections were given in one day. The average time spent in the MVC was 43.2 ± 15 min (time measured between entry and exit of the structure). The average time to be vaccinated was 26 ± 13 min. In total, 4712 patients (1%) responded to the satisfaction survey. The overall satisfaction with the organization of the vaccination was 10 (9–10) out of 10. By using one attending physician and one nurse to supervise a staff of trained students, the MVC of Toulouse optimized staffing to be among the most efficient vaccination centers in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Intramuscular administration of vaccines into the deltoid muscle is the recommended route for most vaccines in adults. Ectopic injection into the subdeltoid/subacromial bursa can produce an inflammatory bursitis that is associated with significant long-term morbidity. Case Report: We describe a novel approach to treatment of this condition: ultrasound-guided administration of dexamethasone by the emergency physician within six hours of vaccine administration. This approach resulted in complete and durable long-term resolution of symptoms with no functional impairment. Conclusion: This outcome is superior to that described for usual care, and the approach is wellsuited to emergency physicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Saúde e Pesquisa is the property of Saude e Pesquisa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Mass vaccination, which is one of the main control policies, provides herd immunity against infectious diseases. This could contribute to the control of the disease and eventually its eradication. The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and humoral immune response of Brucella melitensis Rev.1 vaccine before the start of mass vaccination. A total of 741 sheep and goats were vaccinated conjunctivally. No adverse effect was observed after the vaccination of the animals. No abortion was seen in pregnant animals. Vaccine strain was isolated from some milk samples taken from only lactating vaccinated goats. Excretion of the vaccine strain was not intense and long-termed. Post-vaccination immune response was evaluated by serological tests, namely, Rose Bengal Plate Test, Serum Agglutination Test and Complement Fixation Test. One month after vaccination, the immune response was high, and the decrease of antibody titers was the highest four to six months after vaccination by inversely correlated with the age of the vaccinated animals. In conclusion, we observed that Brucella melitensis Rev.1 vaccine, used conjunctivally, was safe enough for the animals, and vaccinated animals had high vaccineinduced immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many countries have an inefficient vaccination system, which hinders global exit from the COVID-19 pandemic. It is vital to summarize COVID-19 vaccination practices in countries with high vaccination coverage and provide implications for other countries. This study aimed to investigate China's COVID-19 vaccination system and to summarize its implementation experience from a health system perspective. Methods: We conducted key informant interviews in five representative cities of China in late 2021. Guided by the health systems framework proposed by WHO, we developed our interview guidelines which included seven building blocks—leadership and governance, health workforce, vaccination service delivery, vaccination mobilization and communication, financing, access to vaccines, and information systems. Semi-structured interviews and COVID-19 vaccination policy documents were collected and coded using a thematic analysis approach. Results: A total of 61 participants (nine vaccination programme directors of the local Center for Disease Control and Prevention, four government staff and 48 vaccination service workers) were interviewed. We found that China adopted a whole-of-society approach with adequate government engagement and linked health and non-health sectors to promote COVID-19 vaccination. Key measures included the collaboration of multiple systems and departments from a governance perspective, allocating sufficient health workers and resources, large-scale vaccination mobilization and communication, expansion of vaccine financing channels, localized production and digital information systems. With the vaccination system strengthening, the two-doses vaccination coverage reached 89.5% for the total population but relatively lower coverage for older adults as of July 2022. Conclusions: Our study highlights the importance of a government-led whole-of-society approach to promote mass vaccination. The low vaccination coverage among older adults should be paid the greatest attention to. The experiences and lessons from China may serve as a reference for other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the European Union, SARS-CoV-2 vaccines became available in December 2020. The vaccination campaign in Germany was initially implemented through mass vaccination centers and later joined by general practitioners (GPs) in spring 2021. This study compared population characteristics, perceived access barriers, and satisfaction with the vaccination procedure between vaccination centers and GP practices. A paper-based survey was distributed (07/2021–10/2021) among newly vaccinated individuals in ten GP practices (n = 364) and two vaccine centers (n = 474). Participants in vaccine centers were younger compared to participants in GP practices. GP preference was higher in older participants and those with pre-existing illnesses. Wait time at vaccination site was longer in GP practices, whereas travel distance to site was longer for participants in vaccine centers. However, satisfaction with patient education and recommendation of site were more likely with increasing comprehensibility of the vaccination procedure and physicians' information as well as perceived sufficiency of patient education duration, factors that can be easily modified by all vaccination sites. Our results demonstrate that both types of vaccination sites complement each other in terms of accessibility and target population and that satisfaction with the vaccination procedure can be promoted at all sites by an easy-to-understand process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has tested the limits of national public health infrastructures to an unprecedented extent. A huge challenge has been regarding how to safely manage large public gatherings and how to efficiently administer vaccines to a large population. Method: We evaluated three case studies in project management implemented by the Primary Healthcare Corporation (PHCC) over the course of 2020 and 2021, including: COVID-19 screening for the HH Amir Cup and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Finals 2020, the FIFA Club World Cup 2020, and finally Qatar's National COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Project in the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) in 2021. Results: The key themes arising from all the three projects include the importance of developing a strategic plan, project management planning, clarifying and communicating roles and responsibilities, situational decision making, strong leadership, flexibility, result orientation in implementing the project, strong logistical support for providing necessary resources on the ground, and ensuring that staff at all levels are fully supported in performing their duties. In addition, the project management team was successful in building knowledge and experience across events with each successive project benefitting from lessons learned from previous projects. As a result of the strong record of project management established over the course of these experiences, PHCC was able to successfully manage the mass vaccination project with a high level of efficiency in comparison to similar national programs implemented elsewhere, both regionally and globally. Conclusion: The successful implementation of these projects, maintaining a high level of client and staff safety and satisfaction, demonstrates the value of project planning and continuous monitoring in successful implementation even in the context of uncertain conditions such as a global pandemic. Public and community health authorities may benefit by applying similar principles as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD) is endemic in India, where circulation of serotypes O, A and Asia1 is frequent. Here, we provide an epidemiological assessment of the ongoing mass vaccination programs in regard to post‐vaccination monitoring and outbreak occurrence. The objective of this study was assessing the contribution of mass vaccination campaigns in reducing the risk of FMD in India from 2008 to 2016 by evaluating sero‐monitoring data and modelling the spatiotemporal dynamics of reported outbreaks. Through analyzing antibody titre data from >1 million animals sampled as part of pre‐ and post‐vaccination monitoring, we show that the percent of animals with inferred immunological protection (based on ELISA) was highly variable across states but generally increased through time. In addition, the number of outbreaks in a state was negatively correlated with the percent of animals with inferred protection. We then analyzed the distribution of reported FMD outbreaks across states using a Bayesian space–time model. This approach provides better acuity to disentangle the effect of mass vaccination programs on outbreak occurrence, while accounting for other factors that contribute to spatiotemporal variability in outbreak counts, notably proximity to international borders and inherent spatiotemporal correlations in incidence. This model demonstrated a ∼50% reduction in the risk of outbreaks in states that were part of the vaccination program. In addition, after controlling for spatial autocorrelation in the data, states that had international borders experienced heightened risk of FMD outbreaks. These findings help inform risk‐based control strategies for India as the country progresses towards reducing reported clinical disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID‐19 pandemic led to a health crisis with widespread social and economic adverse effects. To address the fallout, vaccine development has been pursued in record time. Several vaccines have already been deployed in countries worldwide, but as the supply is limited, these have been provided selectively. Various allocation schemes, premised on ensuring an equitable distribution, have prioritized the elderly, given their apparent susceptibility. For the Philippines and possibly other countries with extremely limited supplies, the elderly need not always be given primary preference. The level of available supplies can be so low that the immediate focus of allocation should be on mitigating both infection and transmission. The proposed alternative vaccine allocation framework gives priority to groups rendered more vulnerable, such as those who are unable to avoid prolonged exposure to possibly infected people because of medical necessity or occupational conditions. Vulnerable groups include healthcare and other essential workers as well as patients requiring continued healthcare services. The proposed allocation scheme is meant to be complementary to concurrent public health measures, which have to be maintained though made less restrictive as the pandemic is brought under control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Recurrent outbreaks of respiratory viruses like SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus, 2002), MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome, 2012) including the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 (2019) pandemic warrants for a single-broad-spectrum vaccine against these respiratory viruses. METHODS: In the present study, phylogenetic analysis followed by in-silico identification of vaccine candidates for SARS, MERS and SARS- CoV-2 was performed by exploiting T-cell and B-cell mapping to ascertain the best possible epitopes for effector humoral- and cell-mediated immune response. Further, population-coverage analysis of the identified epitopes followed by the designing of chimera of epitope-based vaccine was done using linkers and adjuvants. Docking study was done to appraise the interaction of the proposed vaccine with ACE2 (angiotensin converting enzyme-2) receptor (SARS and SARS-CoV-2) and HLA-B7 (human leukocyte antigen) receptor (MERS). The stability of the vaccine chimera was confirmed by molecular dynamics performed for 20 ns; this was followed by codon optimization and in-silico cloning. RESULTS: Phylogenetic analysis revealed similarity among SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV and bat SARS-like coronavirus. Both, SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 were from different class than MERS, whereas SARS-CoV-2 showed more relatedness with Bat SARS-like coronaviruses. The most suitable epitopes found were LSFELLNAPATVCGP (SARS), LVTLAILTALRLCAY (SARS-CoV-2) and YTSAFNWLL (MERS) with nearly 98% population coverage. Molecular docking followed by simulation studies revealed high number of hydrogen bonds, stable RMSD values and acceptable RMSF flexibility scores, indicating stable interactions of the vaccine with ACE2 and MHC receptors (Major histocompat-ibility complex). Expression of the designed multiepitope vaccine in E. coli (Escherichia coli) expression system was confirmed by in-silico cloning/codon optimization. CONCLUSIONS: Further, in-vitro and in-vivo experimental validation studies are required to endorse our current findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pre-existing respiratory diseases were recognised as risk factors for COVID-19 associated morbidity and mortality. One year after the launch of vaccines against COVID-19, vaccination status in specific population was not clear. Vaccination of population at risk is crucial for COVID-19 control. Aim: To estimate the COVID-19 vaccination status and to detect the reasons for vaccine hesitancy among people with chronic respiratory diseases. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in Respiratory Medicine Department at Narayana Medical College, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India, from January 2022 and February 2022. All the patients above 18 years of age, who presented with chronic respiratory diseases, were included in the study. After taking informed consent, their responses were noted using a validated questionnaire containing data like demographic data and details of vaccination against COVID-19 and reasons for refusal/hesitancy. Results: Out of total 755 subjects, 44.50% were of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), 42.38% were of asthma, 9.40% were of Post-tuberculosis lung disease, 2.52% were of bronchiectasis, and 1.72% were of Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD). Mean age of study population was 51.37±15.30 years, 58% were male and 42% were female. Overall, 75% subjects received atleast single dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Higher vaccine acceptance was noted among 31-42 years age group, males, residents of rural area, graduates, subjects with income more than one lac per month and smokers. Vaccine hesitancy was 25%. Intake of a native medicine (72.87%) was the most common cause for vaccine refusal among these subjects. Other reasons for vaccine hesitancy were, worries about side-effects (63.3%), associated multiple co-morbidities (44.15%), lack of confidence in vaccines (15.96%) and fear of injection (14.89%). Conclusion: Vaccine acceptance against COVID-19 is nearly 75% among people with chronic respiratory diseases in India. Nonetheless, some people were still hesitant to receive vaccine. Continuous health education at every level is needed to achieve vaccination targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. Background: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented the healthcare system with a plethora of challenges, including implementation of an efficient vaccination strategy. Mass vaccinations have been used during previous pandemics; however, the associated data have largely been limited to theoretical simulations and post hoc analysis. Methods: An innovative data collection tool was created to deliver real-time data analysis during a drive-through mass vaccination. Patients were assigned unique identification numbers at the clinic entrance. Using these identification numbers, and the web-based spreadsheet, patients were tracked throughout the vaccination process. Static timestamps corresponding to the entry and exit at each checkpoint were recorded in real time. Results: Data were collected on a total of 3,744 vehicles over five clinic days. Total time was collected, from entry to exit, on 2,860 vehicles. Registration and vaccination times were collected on 3,111 vehicles. Of the vehicles sampled, 1,588 (42%) had data points associated with all checkpoints. Conclusions: This open-source, innovative data collection tool was successfully implemented in our mass vaccination clinic for tracking patients in real time providing actionable data on overall throughput efficiency. This cost-effective tool can be used on a variety of healthcare-related projects to provide data-driven evaluation on the efficiency of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Salud Pública de México is the property of Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Chinese Health Resources is the property of Health Development & Policy Research Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

To prevent the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and aid restoration to prepandemic normality, global mass vaccination is urgently needed. Inducing herd immunity through mass vaccination has proven to be a highly effective strategy for preventing the spread of many infectious diseases, which protects the most vulnerable population groups that are unable to develop immunity, such as people with immunodeficiencies or weakened immune systems due to underlying medical or debilitating conditions. In achieving global outreach, the maintenance of the vaccine potency, transportation, and needle waste generation become major issues. Moreover, needle phobia and vaccine hesitancy act as hurdles to successful mass vaccination. The use of dissolvable microneedles for COVID-19 vaccination could act as a major paradigm shift in attaining the desired goal to vaccinate billions in the shortest time possible. In addressing these points, we discuss the potential of the use of dissolvable microneedles for COVID-19 vaccination based on the current literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass vaccination is proving to be the most effective method of disease control, and several methods have been developed for the operation of mass vaccination clinics to administer vaccines safely and quickly. One such method is known as the hockey hub model, a relatively new method that involves isolating vaccine recipients in individual cubicles for the entire duration of the vaccination process. Healthcare staff move between the cubicles and administer vaccines. This allows for faster vaccine delivery and less recipient contact. In this paper we present a simulation tool which has been created to model the operation of a hockey hub clinic. This tool was developed using AnyLogic and simulates the process of individuals moving through a hockey hub vaccination clinic. To demonstrate this model, we simulate six scenarios comprising three different arrival rates with and without physical distancing. Findings demonstrate that the hockey hub method of vaccination clinic can function at a large capacity with minimal impact on wait times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Health-care workers (HCWs) have been designated as the highest priority group to receive the coronavirus (CoV) vaccine. The study aimed to assess the awareness and perception about the CoV vaccine and the factors associated with the acceptance or rejection of vaccines among HCWs in India. Materials and Methods: An online cross-sectional study using a convenience sampling method was conducted between January 5 and January 14, 2021, just before the initiation of CoV vaccination among HCWs in India. Questions to assess awareness and perception were developed based on the information available on the public health websites. HCWs' willingness to accept the vaccines was also studied along with the factors associated with acceptance or rejection of CoV vaccination. Results: The study received responses from 496 HCWs. Awareness about the CoV vaccine was low, with a mean score of 5.44 (standard deviation = 2.91). Willingness to accept CoV vaccination was found in 63.51% of HCWs with the main reason to protect their family and colleagues (43.73%). The majority of HCWs agreed with the emergency authorization of CoV vaccines (65.93%) and agreed that vaccines will break the chain of transmission of infection (65.73%). Perception of vaccine effectiveness (odds ratio [OR] = 8.52, P = 0.000) and higher awareness (OR = 2.86, P = 0.000) were significantly associated with willingness to accept CoV vaccination. Conclusion: HCWs have the responsibility to disseminate correct information and risks about vaccinations among the public. Health authorities should continue encouraging the increase of the knowledge and awareness of the utility of vaccines among HCWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rabies is a deadly viral disease present mainly in low-income countries of Africa and Asia. Dogs are the main reservoir and the source of human deaths. Mass vaccination campaigns of dogs are pivotal to achieve rabies elimination. The monitoring of the immune response of the dog population is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of these campaigns, taking into account field conditions. This study explores the feasibility and the performance of a new tool using filter papers (FPs) to collect blood samples associated with an Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) titration of rabies antibodies in dogs. A total of 216 eluates from FP samples were collected from 111 dogs kept in experimental facilities in France and 29 dogs from the field in Tunisia. Sera were also analyzed using both the Fluorescence Antibody Virus Neutralization test (FAVNt) and ELISA. A high specificity (98.0%) was obtained by testing FP blood eluates from 51 unvaccinated dogs, with the results compared with those of FAVNt and ELISA on serum samples. The coefficients of concordance between FP eluates and tested sera were 88.9% for FAVNt and 88.0% for ELISA. Blood filter papers coupled with the titration of rabies antibodies by ELISA provide a reliable, simple, and effective solution to overcome the issues of the logistics and transport of samples, especially in low-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has caused a deadly pandemic in the 21st century, resulting in many deaths, economic loss, and international immobility. Vaccination represents the only mechanism to defeat this virus. Several intramuscular vaccines have been approved and are currently used worldwide. Main body: However, global mass vaccination has not been achieved owing to several limitations, including the need for expertise to administer the injection‐based vaccine, improper distribution of the vaccine, and lack of cold chain facilities, particularly in resource‐poor, low‐income countries. Mucosal vaccines are typically administered either orally or nasally, and several studies have shown promising results for developing these vaccines against SARS‐CoV‐2 that might serve as viable alternatives to current vaccines. SARS‐CoV‐2 invades the human body via oral and nasal mucosal surfaces; thus, an oral or nasal vaccine can trigger the immune system to inhibit the virus at the mucosal level, preventing further transmission via a strong mucosal and systematic immune response. Although several approaches toward developing a mucosal vaccine are currently being tested, additional attention is required. Conclusion: In this article, the current approaches used to develop effective oral and nasal mucosal vaccines against SARS‐CoV‐2 and their benefits, prospects, and challenges have been summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an unprecedented global public health crisis. Mass vaccination is the safest and fastest pandemic exit strategy. Mass vaccination clinics are a particularly important tool in quickly achieving herd immunity. Primary care physicians have played a crucial role in organizing and running vaccination clinics. In this special report, we synthesize existing guidelines and peer-reviewed studies to provide physicians with practical guidance on planning and implementing COVID-19 mass vaccination clinics.Methods: PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE and Embase were used to search for relevant literature using search terms that included COVID-19, mass vaccination, and best practice. We also identified and analyzed national and international guidelines.Results: Forty-six relevant articles, reports, and guidelines were identified and synthesized. Articles included mass vaccination clinic guidelines and studies before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key considerations for COVID-19 mass vaccination clinics include leadership and role designation, site selection, clinic layout and workflow, day-to-day operations, infection prevention, and communication strategies.Conclusions: Planning and implementing a successful COVID-19 mass vaccination clinic requires several key considerations. Primary care plays an important role in organizing clinics and ensuring populations made vulnerable by social and economic policies are being reached. Ongoing data collection is required to evaluate and continuously improve COVID-19 mass vaccination efforts. As the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine rollout occurs in various countries, research will be required to identify the main factors for success to inform future pandemic responses.VISUAL ABSTRACT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents our views on main scientific and methodological approaches regarding the advantages of conducting mass vaccination of healthy individuals and COVID-19 convalescents. First of all, the focus is on issues regarding the antigenic potencies of SARS-CoV-2, based on which vaccines have been created over the past three years that have successfully passed preclinical and clinical testing, as well as licensing. The subjects of specal discussion were aspects related to the short-term effect of the main vaccines, as a result of which revaccination is recommended. It is assumed that more than one antigenic determinant is expressed on the surface of SARS-CoV-2. In the conclusion paragraph, we have presented our own concept on most topical situational issues among the population of many countries in the process of vaccination against COVID-19. 1. Is it worth getting vaccinated at all if complications can arise that lead to disability and death even in practically healthy individuals, not to mention the elderly contingent with chronic diseases? 2. In making a positive decision, the question arises in terms of choosing a vaccine, since vaccines are used in different countries, in the production of which different scientific, methodological and technological approaches are used. 3. If there is a need for re-vaccination within a short period after the first vaccination? 4. As a rule, it is recommended to re-vaccinate in 14-30 days after the first vaccination. In this regard, there are concerns about the low efficacy (weak selective immunogenic activity) of vaccines. 5. How expedient, if not contraindicated, is to "fully" vaccinate patients in the recovery period, as well as over the next one to two months, if they have high levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies? 6. In case of re-vaccination, it is necessary to find out whether it is possible to get the second vaccination using a commercial vaccine of another manufacturer, especially since many developing countries do not currently have such a vaccine that has been introduced during the first vaccination. 7. How competent is it to vaccinate a wide range of healthy individuals against COVID-19 and influenza - for the same time or with the shortest time interval? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID-19 has severely impacted global healthcare services. Malta has only one acute state hospital, Mater Dei Hospital (MDH), and at the time of writing is the most vaccinated country in Europe. Malta thus provides an ideal setting to assess the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare services at population level, including the impact of vaccination on hospital admissions. Methods: Hospital data was obtained as anonymised totals from MDH's Clinical Performance Unit and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. COVID-19-related data was obtained from the Ministry of Health dashboard. Comparative assessments were performed to explore associations between the COVID-19 situation, vaccination, and hospital activity. Poisson regression was used to model the counts of monthly accident and emergency (A&E), outpatient clinics attendances and hospital admissions. Results: A&E, hospital admissions, and outpatient clinics attendances declined (31.88%; 23.89%; 29.57%; p < 0.01 respectively) with onset of COVID-19 till April 2021 when compared to pre-COVID years (2017–2019). Admissions due to COVID-19 initially increased in parallel to the population's COVID positivity. Vaccination rollout led to a decline in COVID-19 admissions. Conclusions: The drastic drop in admissions and outpatient attendees was expected but not for A&E attendees as acutely ill patients should still have attended. This is of public health concern since delayed or deferred medical management increases population morbidity, mortality and increases the eventual burden on the healthcare system. Mass vaccination saw the return to normality with an increase in A&E burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Currently, more than 4.5 billion doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have been applied worldwide. However, some developing countries are still a long way from achieving herd immunity through vaccination. In some territories, such as the Colombian Amazon, mass immunization strategies have been implemented with the CoronaVac® vaccine. Due to its proximity to Brazil, where one of the variants of interest of SARS-CoV-2 circulates. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of the CoronaVac® vaccine in a population of the Colombian Amazon. Methods: Between February 24, 2021, and August 10, 2021, a descriptive observational study was carried out in which a population of individuals over 18 years of age immunized with two doses of the CoronaVac® vaccine was evaluated. The study site was in the municipality of Mitú, Vaupés, in southeastern Colombia, a region located in the Amazon bordering Brazil. Results. 99% of the urban population of the Mitú municipality were vaccinated with CoronaVac®. To date, 5.7% of vaccinated individuals have become ill, and only 0.1% of these require hospitalization. One death was attributable to COVID-19 has been reported among vaccinated individuals, and the vaccine has shown 94.3% effectiveness against mild disease and 99.9% against severe infection. Conclusions: The herd immunity achieved through mass vaccination in this population has made it possible to reduce the rate of complicated cases and mortality from COVID-19 in this region of the Colombian Amazon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New York State was the epicenter for COVID-19 in Spring 2020 when little was known about the pandemic. Dire circumstances necessitated New York State's (NYS) public mental health system to rapidly pivot, adapt, and innovate its policies and procedures to ensure continuous high-level care to individuals with serious mental illness (SMI), a population especially vulnerable to both the physical and psychosocial sequelae of COVID-19. NYS rapidly adopted emergency measures to support community providers, expanded the capacity of its State-Operated facilities, created policies to promote improved infection control access, collaborated to enhance the public–private continuum of service to support people with SMI, and broadened the use of new technologies to ensure continued engagement of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Dilemas Contemporáneos: Educación, Política y Valores is the property of Dilemas Contemporaneos: Educacion, Politica y Valores and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Drive-through clinics have previously been utilized in vaccination efforts and are now being more widely adopted for COVID-19 vaccination in different parts of the world by offering many advantages including utilizing existing infrastructure, large daily throughput and enforcing social distancing by default. Successful, effective, and efficient drive-through facilities require a suitable site and keen focus on layout and process design. To demonstrate the role that high fidelity computer simulation can play in planning and design of drive-through mass vaccination clinics, we used multiple integrated discrete event simulation (DES) and agent-based modelling methods. This method using AnyLogic simulation software to aid in planning, design, and implementation of one of the largest and most successful early COVID-19 mass vaccination clinics operated by UCHealth in Denver, Colorado. Simulations proved to be helpful in aiding the optimization of UCHealth drive through mass vaccination clinic design and operations by exposing potential bottlenecks, overflows, and queueing, and clarifying the necessary number of supporting staff. Simulation results informed the target number of vaccinations and necessary processing times for different drive through station set ups and clinic formats. We found that modern simulation tools with advanced visual and analytical capabilities to be very useful for effective planning, design, and operations management of mass vaccination facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Recurrent measles outbreaks followed by mass vaccination campaigns (MVCs) occur in urban settings in sub-Saharan countries. An understanding of the reasons for this is needed to improve future vaccination strategies. The 2017 measles outbreak in Guinea provided an opportunity to qualitatively explore suboptimal vaccination coverage within an MVC among participants through their perceptions, experiences and challenges. Methods We conducted focus group discussions with caregivers (n=68) and key informant interviews (n=13) with health professionals and religious and community leaders in Conakry. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim from Susu and French, coded and thematically analysed. Results Vaccinations were widely regarded positively and their preventive benefits noted. Vaccine side effects and the subsequent cost of treatment were commonly reported concerns, with further knowledge requested. Community health workers (CHWs) play a pivotal role in MVCs. Caregivers suggested recruiting CHWs from local neighbourhoods and improving their attitude, knowledge and skills to provide information about vaccinations. Lack of trust in vaccines, CHWs and the healthcare system, particularly after the 2014–2016 Ebola epidemic, were also reported. Conclusions Improving caregivers' knowledge of vaccines, potential side effects and their management are essential to increase MVC coverage in urban settings. Strengthening CHWs' capacities and appropriate recruitment are key to improving trust through a community involvement approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented on nursing and its role in the vaccination against COVID-19 in a Pandemic Scenario. Topics include varying non-pharmacological interventions and public health measures have been implemented aimed at stopping the virus; and obligatory use of face masks, physical distancing and restrictions on mobility due to the establishment of quarantines and home confinement.