Evaluating the effects of vaccine messaging on immunization intentions and behavior: Evidence from two randomized controlled trials in Vermont

The effectiveness of vaccines in reducing child morbidity and mortality worldwide relies on public acceptance. However, relatively little is known about the effects of vaccine communication on vaccine attitudes and immunization behavior. Previous research suggests that common communication approaches may be ineffective or even counterproductive, especially among vaccine-hesitant parents. However, these studies typically rely on observational data or self-reported measures of vaccination intention. Using novel research designs, we tested the attitudinal and behavioral effects of messages encouraging vaccination in both a survey experiment conducted among a large sample of parents in Vermont who expressed hesitancy about childhood immunizations and a field experiment among parents whose children were overdue for vaccines. We find that neither a message promoting immunization as a social norm nor a message correcting common misperceptions about vaccines was measurably more effective than a standard public health message at improving parents’ attitudes toward vaccines, intention to vaccinate their children, or compliance with the recommended vaccine schedule. Our results highlight the need for more research on approaches to successfully reducing vaccine hesitancy among parents.     

Influenza vaccine effectiveness against influenza-associated hospitalization in children in Hong Kong, 2010–2020

BackgroundInfluenza virus infections can cause hospitalizations in children, and annual vaccination of children can provide protection against influenza.MethodsWe analyzed a test-negative design study with data spanning from 2010/11 through 2019/20 to evaluate influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) against influenza hospitalization in children by age group, influenza type/subtype and time period within each season. We enrolled children admitted to hospital with acute febrile respiratory illnesses. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were tested by culture and/or RT-PCR to determine influenza status, and vaccination status was obtained by interviewing parents or legal guardians and was verified where possible. VE was estimated by conditional logistic regression model adjusting for sex, age and age-squared, matching on week.ResultsInfluenza seasons in Hong Kong are prolonged with influenza-associated hospitalizations occurring in almost every month of the year during the study period. Influenza vaccination was effective in preventing influenza-associated hospitalizations in children of all ages. Influenza VE was higher in younger children than in older children, and higher against hospitalization due to influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 than A(H3N2) and B.ConclusionsThe childhood influenza vaccination program in Hong Kong has prevented influenza-associated hospitalizations particularly in younger children. Our findings support the use of influenza vaccines in children as an effective approach to influenza control and prevention.     

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。     

2013—2019年宁夏学校传染病突发公共卫生事件流行特征分析

目的 了解宁夏2013—2019年学校传染病突发公共卫生事件的发生特点。方法 采用描述流行性病学分析方法,对宁夏2013—2019年学校传染病突发公共卫生事件进行分析。结果 2013—2019年学校传染病突发公共卫生事件报告101起,报告2 238例,罹患率为1.71%,无死亡。呼吸道传染病的罹患率为1.62%,肠道传染病为2.59%。呈春、冬季2个报告高峰,均以水痘为主。小学报告的事件数最多,报告67起,占67.07%。幼儿园的罹患率较高,为2.59%。结论 做好学校传染病疫情监测、预警、处置,加强传染病健康教育,积极推广二类疫苗接种等措施,能有效预防和控制学校传染病突发公共卫生事件发生。     

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。