The Health Belief Model in predicting healthcare workers' intention for influenza vaccine uptake in Jordan

BackgroundTheories of health behavior change are being inadequately adopted to understand the reasons behind low influenza vaccination rates among healthcare workers (HCWs). The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) is being used to predict intention-behavior relationship while the Health Belief Model (HBM) is being employed to predict actual behavior. The purpose of this study was to test a conceptual model based on the HBM’s constructs to predict Jordanian HCWs’ intentions for influenza vaccine uptake as an alternative to the TPB.MethodA cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted in 2016 in a tertiary teaching hospital in Amman-Jordan including a convenience sample of 477 HCWs with direct patient contact. The study instrument was tested for validity and reliability. A conceptual regression model was proposed incorporating the constructs of the primary HBM with some modifications in the threat construct as well as an additional variable about explicit past vaccination behavior (in the past year and/or any previous history of influenza vaccine uptake).ResultsAlmost all the constructs of the HBM demonstrated significant differences between participants intending and those who did not intend to vaccinate against influenza. After adjusting for the confounding variables in the final conceptual regression model, past vaccination behavior (OR= 4.50, 95%Confidence Interval 3.38–6.00, P< 0.0005) and the perceived benefit scale (OR= 1.19, 95% Confidence Interval 1.11–1.28, P< 0.0005) were the only significant predictors of intentions to vaccinate against influenza in the next season.ConclusionTaking into consideration the altruistic beliefs of HCWs and their explicit past vaccination history augments the utility of the original HBM tool in predicting HCWs’ intentions to vaccinate against influenza in a way that is consistent with the predictive ability of the Theory of Planned Behavior.     

Factors and considerations for establishing and improving seasonal influenza vaccination of health workers: Report from a WHO meeting,January 16–17, Berlin,Germany

Health workers represent an important target group for seasonal influenza vaccination because of their increased risk of infection as well as the risk of transmitting infection to vulnerable patients in the health care setting. Moreover, seasonal vaccination of health workers contributes to pandemic preparedness. However, many countries, especially in Africa and Asia, do not have policies for health worker influenza vaccination. In countries where such policies exist, vaccination coverage is often low. The World Health Organization (WHO) is developing a manual to guide the introduction of seasonal influenza vaccination of health workers. An Independent External Advisory Group (IEAG) that is advising WHO on the content of the manual met to discuss issues that are relevant and often unique to health worker vaccination. This meeting report summarizes the main issues that were discussed and the outcomes of the discussion. The issues include policy considerations, including the evidence in support of health worker vaccination; categorization and prioritization of health workers; the choice of vaccination strategy; its integration into broader health worker vaccination and occupational health policies; planning and management of vaccination, particularly the approaches for communication and demand generation; and the challenges with monitoring and evaluation of health worker vaccination, especially in low and middle-income countries.     

Review of the environmental prenatal exposome and its relationship to maternal and fetal health

Environmental chemicals comprise a major portion of the human exposome, with some shown to impact the health of susceptible populations, including pregnant women and developing fetuses. The placenta and cord blood serve as important biological windows into the maternal and fetal environments. In this article we review how environmental chemicals (defined here to include man-made chemicals [e.g., flame retardants, pesticides/herbicides, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances], toxins, metals, and other xenobiotic compounds) contribute to the prenatal exposome and highlight future directions to advance this research field. Our findings from a survey of recent literature indicate the need to better understand the breadth of environmental chemicals that reach the placenta and cord blood, as well as the linkages between prenatal exposures, mechanisms of toxicity, and subsequent health outcomes. Research efforts tailored towards addressing these needs will provide a more comprehensive understanding of how environmental chemicals impact maternal and fetal health.     

Acceptance of multiple injectable vaccines in a single immunization visit in The Gambia pre and post introduction of inactivated polio vaccine

BackgroundAs the World Health Organization (WHO) currently recommends that children be protected against 11 different pathogens, it is becoming increasingly necessary to administer multiple injectable vaccines during a single immunization visit. In this study we assess Gambian healthcare providers’ and infant caregivers’ attitudes and practices related to the administration of multiple injectable vaccines to a child at a single immunization visit before and after the 2015 introduction of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV). IPV introduction increased the number of injectable vaccines recommended for the 4-month immunization visit from two to three in The Gambia.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey before and after the introduction of IPV at 4 months of age in a representative sample of all health facilities providing immunizations in The Gambia. Healthcare providers who administer vaccines at the selected health facilities and caregivers who brought infants for their 4 month immunization visit were surveyed.FindingsPrior to IPV introduction, 9.9% of healthcare providers and 35.7% of infant caregivers expressed concern about a child receiving more than 2 injections in a single visit. Nevertheless, 98.8% and 90.9% of infants received all required vaccinations for the visit before and after IPV introduction, respectively. The only reason why vaccines were not received was vaccine stock-outs. Infant caregivers generally agreed that vaccinators could be trusted to provide accurate information regarding the number of vaccines that a child needed.ConclusionHealthcare providers and infant caregivers in this resource limited setting accepted an increase in the number of injectable vaccines administered at a single visit even though some expressed concerns about the increase.     

人源腺病毒伴随病毒Ⅱ型单克隆抗体Fab段及其全抗体的研制

目的 运用噬菌体表面表达技术，获得基因工程抗腺病毒伴随病毒抗体Fab、IgG。方法 从酶联免疫吸附试验阳性的人外周血中分离淋巴细胞。提取总RNA，逆转录cDNA，聚合酶链反应扩增人IgG Fab轻、重链基因，利用pComb3载体构建噬菌体抗体库。用纯化的腺病毒伴随病毒为固相抗原筛选抗体Fab段，并在E.coli中进行分泌性表达。通过ELISA和间接免疫荧光试验、筛选和鉴定Fab抗体，并进行序列测定。然后将其重链和轻链基因克隆到全抗体表达载体pAC-L-Fc上。转染昆虫sf-9细胞，利用杆状病毒，昆虫细胞系统实现全抗体的分泌型表达，免疫沉淀试验鉴定它的抗蛋白。结果 分离到一株Fab克隆AAVs-31，腺病毒伴随病毒抗原和抗Fab抗体直接ELISA检测阳性，间接免疫荧光试验呈阳性，序列分析结果表明是一新的序列，所获得的基因为人源IgG Fab基因。由Gamma链和Kappa链组成。表达的全抗体ELISA反应、免疫荧光反应和间接免疫荧光试验均为阳性，免疫沉淀试验结果显示它结合病毒颗粒，不结合任一VP1、VP2、VP3单独衣鞘蛋白。结论 用噬菌体表面表达技术首次获得了抗腺病毒伴随病毒Ⅱ型单克隆抗体Fab段，并在真核系统中表达了其全抗体，它们识别的可能是衣鞘蛋白组装时形成的表位。     

空气净化器对甲醛净化效果评价时间和测定间隔的研究

目的　提出空气净化器对甲醛净化效果评价的时间和测定间隔。方法　在 30m3和 1 5m3测试舱中进行自然衰减试验和甲醛去除效果试验。结果　自然衰减测试时间为 2 5小时 ,测定间隔为 15分钟 ;总衰减测试时间为 1 2小时 ,测定间隔为 5分钟。当空气净化器风量 <30m3 h或评价无风量空气净化产品时 ,可在 1 5m3测试舱中进行评价 ,自然衰减和总衰减的测试时间均为 6 4min ,测定间隔为 8分钟。结论　不同类型空气净化器对甲醛净化效果评价的测定时间和测定间隔不同     

2008年-2010年托幼机构消毒质量检测结果分析

目的:了解掌握托幼机构消毒工作质量,为开展消毒技术指导工作提供科学依据。方法:对全区托幼机构2008年-2010年的消毒质量检测结果进行回顾性分析。结果:2008年-2010年在全区托幼机构共采集、检测室内空气和餐饮具等各类样品3269件,合格2761件,合格率为84.46%,其中以2008年合格率最高为88.27%,2010年最低为82.17%;各类样品的合格率由高至低依次分别是餐桌、玩具、毛巾等各类物体表面(91.73%)、室内空气(85.28%)、儿童用餐饮用具(81.98%)和工作人员手(67.65%);各个季度合格率由高至低依次分别为一季度(93.91%)、四季度(87.28%)、二季度(81.94%)和三季度(79.30%)。结论:我区托幼机构消毒工作质量有逐年下降趋势,其中工作人员手及儿童用餐饮具的消毒质量应引起高度重视。     

Immunogenicity and safety of a mixed vaccination schedule with one dose of nonavalent and one dose of bivalent HPV vaccine versus two doses of nonavalent vaccine – A randomized clinical trial

BackgroundLimited data is available on the use of different HPV vaccines in the same subjects. We evaluated the immunogenicity and safety of a mixed vaccination schedule with one dose of nonavalent (9vHPV) and one dose of bivalent vaccine (2vHPV) administered in different order versus two doses of 9vHPV vaccine.Methods371 girls and boys aged 9–10 years were randomized (1:1) to receive (I) two doses of 9vHPV or (II) a mixed schedule of 2vHPV + 9vHPV or 9vHPV + 2vHPV with a 6 month interval. Antibodies to HPV were tested by ELISA in blood samples collected one or six months post-first dose and one month post-second dose.ResultsPost-first dose of 9vHPV 99.4–100% of subjects were seropositive to 9 HPV types included in the vaccine. GMTs varied from 5.0 to 73.6 IU(AU)/ml depending on HPV type. Post-first dose of 2vHPV all subjects were seropositive to HPV16 and 18 (GMTs 16.7 and 11.7 IU/ml, respectively) and 50.0–76.7% were seropositive to 7 types not included in 2vHPV (GMTs varied from 0.3 to 17.5 AU/ml depending on type). Post-second dose all subjects, regardless of the study group, were seropositive to 9 HPV types included in 9vHPV. Anti-HPV16 and 18 GMTs were higher in subjects with the mixed schedule and for the other 7 HPV types higher in subjects who received two doses of 9vHPV vaccine. A higher proportion of subjects who received 2vHPV reported local or systemic adverse events than those who received 9vHPV as the first dose. Post-second dose there were no differences in reported adverse events between the two vaccines.ConclusionsThe results show the mixed HPV vaccination schedules used in this study are immunogenic and have an acceptable safety profile. Although the seroprotective threshold of antibodies remains unknown the 100% seropositivity to all 9 HPV types included in 9vHPV and the increase of GMTs observed in all study groups post-second dose administration are reassuring and suggest protection might be achieved regardless of the schedule used.Clinical Trials Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02567955.