Trends,patterns and psychological influences on COVID-19 vaccination intention: Findings from a large prospective community cohort study in England and Wales (Virus Watch)

BackgroundVaccination intention is key to the success of any vaccination programme, alongside vaccine availability and access. Public intention to take a COVID-19 vaccine is high in England and Wales compared to other countries, but vaccination rate disparities between ethnic, social and age groups has led to concern.MethodsOnline survey of prospective household community cohort study participants across England and Wales (Virus Watch). Vaccination intention was measured by individual participant responses to ‘Would you accept a COVID-19 vaccine if offered?’, collected in December 2020 and February 2021. Responses to a 13-item questionnaire collected in January 2021 were analysed using factor analysis to investigate psychological influences on vaccination intention.ResultsSurvey response rate was 56% (20,785/36,998) in December 2020 and 53% (20,590/38,727) in February 2021, with 14,880 adults reporting across both time points. In December 2020, 1,469 (10%) participants responded ‘No’ or ‘Unsure’. Of these people, 1,266 (86%) changed their mind and responded ‘Yes’ or ‘Already had a COVID-19 vaccine’ by February 2021. Vaccination intention increased across all ethnic groups and levels of social deprivation. Age was most strongly associated with vaccination intention, with 16–24-year-olds more likely to respond “Unsure” or “No” versus “Yes” than 65–74-year-olds in December 2020 (OR: 4.63, 95 %CI: 3.42, 6.27 & OR 7.17 95 %CI: 4.26, 12.07 respectively) and February 2021 (OR: 27.92 95 %CI: 13.79, 56.51 & OR 17.16 95 %CI: 4.12, 71.55). The association between ethnicity and vaccination intention weakened, but did not disappear, over time. Both vaccine- and illness-related psychological factors were shown to influence vaccination intention.ConclusionsFour in five adults (86%) who were reluctant or intending to refuse a COVID-19 vaccine in December 2020 had changed their mind in February 2021 and planned to accept, or had already accepted, a vaccine.     

The impact of COVID-19 vaccination delay: A data-driven modeling analysis for Chicago and New York City

BackgroundBy the beginning of December 2020, some vaccines against COVID-19 already presented efficacy and security, which qualify them to be used in mass vaccination campaigns. Thus, setting up strategies of vaccination became crucial to control the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsWe use daily COVID-19 reports from Chicago and New York City (NYC) from 01-Mar2020 to 28-Nov-2020 to estimate the parameters of an SEIR-like epidemiological model that accounts for different severity levels. To achieve data adherent predictions, we let the model parameters to be time-dependent. The model is used to forecast different vaccination scenarios, where the campaign starts at different dates, from 01-Oct-2020 to 01-Apr-2021. To generate realistic scenarios, disease control strategies are implemented whenever the number of predicted daily hospitalizations reaches a preset threshold.ResultsThe model reproduces the empirical data with remarkable accuracy. Delaying the vaccination severely affects the mortality, hospitalization, and recovery projections. In Chicago, the disease spread was under control, reducing the mortality increment as the start of the vaccination was postponed. In NYC, the number of cases was increasing, thus, the estimated model predicted a much larger impact, despite the implementation of contention measures.The earlier the vaccination campaign begins, the larger is its potential impact in reducing the COVID-19 cases, as well as in the hospitalizations and deaths. Moreover, the rate at which cases, hospitalizations and deaths increase with the delay in the vaccination beginning strongly depends on the shape of the incidence of infection in each city.     

Older adolescents and young adults willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine: Implications for informing public health strategies

ImportanceThe success in ending the COVID-19 pandemic rests partly on the mass uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. Little work has been done to understand vaccine willingness among older adolescents and young adults. This is important since this age group may be less likely to adhere to public health guidelines.ObjectiveTo understand willingness of getting a vaccine and reasons for vaccine hesitancy among a sample of older adolescents and young adults.DesignData were from the Well-Being and Experiences study (The WE Study), a longitudinal community-based sample of older adolescents and young adults collected from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada from 2017 to 2020 (n = 664).SettingThe study setting was a community-based observational longitudinal study.ParticipantsParticipants for the study were aged 14 to 17 years old at baseline in 2016–17 (n = 1000). Data were also collected on one parent/caregiver. Waves 2 (n = 747) and 3 (n = 664) were collected in 2019 and 2020, respectively.ExposuresThe main exposures were sociodemographic factors, health conditions, COVID-19 knowledge, and adversity history.Main OutcomesThe main outcomes were COVID-19 vaccine willingness, hesitancy, and reasons for hesitancy.ResultsWillingness to get a COVID-19 vaccine was 65.4%. Willingness did not differ by age, sex, or mental health conditions, but did differ for other sociodemographic characteristics, physical health conditions, COVID-19 knowledge, practicing social/physical distancing, and adversity history. The most common reasons for not wanting a vaccine were related to safety, knowledge, and effectiveness. Sex differences were noted.Conclusions and RelevanceIncreasing uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine among older adolescents and young adults may rely on targeting individuals from households with lower income, financial burden, and adversity history, and generating public health messaging specifically aimed at vaccine safety, how it works to protect against illness, and why it is important to protect oneself against a COVID-19 infection.     

Qualité des supports de communication de crise lors de la pandémie de la COVID-19 au Grand Maghreb

ObjectiveTo objectively assess the quality of “crisis communication” media, during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the three Greater Maghreb countries (Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco).MethodsA compliance audit for press releases and epidemiological bulletins was analyzed against a quality benchmark, which had been specifically designed by the authors. This framework, made up of five dimensions and 50 items, graded (0/1), was applied by two researchers in preventive medicine. Multiplying the scores by a coefficient of two resulted in a partial score of 20 points for each dimension and a total score of 100 points for the checklist taken as a whole. The quality of the communication media was considered to be good when exceeding the thresholds of 15/20 for the different dimensions and 75/100 for the entire grid.ResultsA total of 141 information media were included in this audit (Tunisia: 60; Algeria: 60; Morocco: 21). The overall median quality score for these media was only 56/100 (IIQ: [46–58]), without major variability between countries. The most appreciated dimension was “maintaining the confidence of the population”, with an overall median score of 14/20 (12/20 for epidemiological bulletins and 16/20 for press releases). The most poorly rated dimension was “strengthening community participation”, with a median score of only 4/20 (6/20 for epidemiological bulletins and 4/20 for press releases).ConclusionThe quality of the Maghreb crisis communication media during COVID-19 was insufficient in most of its dimensions and items, particularly from a psychosocial standpoint. Reinforcement of the capacities of communication officers to develop information material and supports during health crises is indispensable and should be considered as an urgent matter.     

我国空中医疗急救发展现状与体系构建建议

目的 探讨我国空中医疗急救发展现状及体系构建策略。方法 基于现有资料分析我国空中医疗急救发展现状、模式、问题与挑战。结果 近年来我国通航企业及飞行器数量发展迅速,但是存在总体不足、多数通航企业规模较小等问题。空中急救网络主要有航空公司主导、医院或急救中心主导、通航企业-医院联合和政府主导4种发展模式;各模式均为自由发展,距离国家规划的目标尚远;现有体系内要素分散、结构不完整,大范围的空中急救网络尚未形成。结论 我国地形复杂,建成覆盖面广、运行模式统一的空中医疗急救网络困难较大,建议全国范围内构建多个主体共同参与的多元化区域性空中急救体系,而在青藏高原及周边区域优先构建公益性空中医疗急救体系。     

基于重大疫情防控的医防融合策略研究

目的 基于目前疫情防控新形势下提出医防融合的策略建议。方法 分析在疫情防控形势下医防融合的新内涵和主要障碍,并根据疫情防控的现实情况提出相应建议。结果 医防融合的障碍包括:相关法律法规有待完善、医疗机构与疾控机构缺乏有效协调衔接机制、公共卫生人才队伍建设仍需加强、医院未重视公共卫生职能、基层传染病防控基础较薄弱。结论 可从宏观、中观、微观三个层面来进行医防融合。其中,宏观层面包括完善法律法规体系、增强社会氛围;中观层面包括提高医院公共卫生工作积极性、增强基层医疗机构传染病防控能力、促进医防信息的融合;微观层面则关注人员的融合,即提高公共卫生人员地位与待遇、进行医学教育改革,培养“防治结合”型人才、打通疾控与医疗机构人员互通渠道。     

基于加权秩和比法评价广东省公共卫生资源配置

目的 评价2019年广东省不同地市（除中山市）的公共卫生资源配置状况。方法 从《2019年广东省卫生健康统计年鉴》中选取专业公共卫生机构数、专业公共卫生机构床位数、专业公共卫生机构执业(助理) 医师数、专业公共卫生机构注册护士数和每万人口公共卫生人数五个评价指标,利用加权秩和比法综合评价广东省不同地市的公共卫生资源配置差异。结果 WRSR与Probit的回归方程为[AKY^5]=0.250Probit-0.745（F=362.461,P<0.05,R=0.980）;将不同地市公共卫生资源配置分为四档,肇庆市、广州市、佛山市、深圳市四市公共卫生资源配置处于较高水平,则汕尾市、潮州市则较为落后。结论 广东省公共卫生资源整体上逐年提升,但每万人口公共卫生人数与目标相比还具有差距;不同地区间公共卫生资源配置差异大,人均获得资源不均衡。     

Health services reforms: political and managerial aims--an international perspective

Health policy everywhere is in flux. In marked contrast with the impenetrable orthodoxy and inaction characteristic of past decades, health policy currently is in the midst of large-scale upheaval. Many of the fundamental assumptions and principles that long guided health-sector development are in the process of being turned upside down. Whether a country is rich or poor, it matters not. Virtually every country either has or is contemplating major reforms in its provisions for the organization and financing of health services. Moreover, the differences in health services structure which divided nations, are becoming smaller--to the point where formerly shunned international exchanges now are considered useful mediums for the exposition of common tensions and the exploration of choices for adapting health care to complex and new economic realities.     

马克思关于人类社会阶段“跨越”发展的辩证法

马克思曾设想俄国农村公社有可能跨越资本主义制度“卡夫丁峡谷”而直接进入共产主义社会。本文运用马克思主义理论辩证地阐述了人类社会实现跨越发展所必备的条件内在因素、外在条件、动力以及跨越的内容。     

对我国卫生资源配置和使用几个深层次问题的思索

我国卫生资源既贫稼又浪费已成为内人士的共识,但又是一个我国卫生事业发展的实际而又紧迫的问题,这个问题不好,就会人为地降低我国卫生事业的公益性和福利性的“含金量”。作者认为,要使我国有限的卫生资源能充分而合理地使用好,就要立足于我国的基本国情,在确保市场的微观调节的前提下,必须运用政府的宏观调控行为和政策指导手段,尽可能为管理体制的改革扫除障碍和给予法制上的保障。