Acceptability of COVID-19 booster vaccine in malaysia: a cross-sectional study.

Despite the high efficacy and safety demonstrated in clinical trials, COVID-19 booster vaccination rates in Malaysia remain below 50% among the general public. This study explores the factors influencing public acceptance of the COVID-19 booster vaccine among the Malaysian population. The questionnaire included variables on sociodemographics, knowledge, and the Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs. Based on the Chi-squared test of contingencies, a t-test and multivariate logistic regression analysis on 411 collected responses, the findings revealed that older participants, individuals of Chinese ethnicity, and those with higher education levels and incomes were more willing to accept booster vaccinations. The analysis further identified perceived susceptibility, perceived severity and perceived barriers as significant predictors influencing booster vaccination acceptance rates. Healthcare policymakers may consider targeting interventions to diminish the obstacles associated with booster vaccinations. These intervention strategies include implementing health intervention programmes, such as public health awareness initiatives, to raise awareness of the risks and severity of COVID-19, ultimately encouraging higher uptake of booster vaccines.

Implementation of COVID-19 vaccination services in prison in six European countries: translating emergency intervention into routine life-course vaccination.

BACKGROUND: Evidence has shown that the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is much higher in prisons than in the community. The release of the COVID-19 vaccine and the recommendation by WHO to include prisons among priority settings have led to the inclusion of prisons in national COVID-19 vaccination strategies. Evidence on prison health and healthcare services provision is limited and often focuses on a single country or institution due to the multiple challenges of conducting research in prison settings. The present study was done in the framework of the EU-founded project RISE-Vac. It aimed to analyse the best practices and challenges applied in implementing COVID-19 universal vaccination services during the pandemic to support future expansion of routine life course vaccination services for people living in prison (PLP). METHODS: Two online cross-sectional surveys were designed and piloted: survey1 on prison characteristics and (non-COVID-19) immunisation practices; survey2 on the implementation and coverage of COVID-19 vaccination with open-ended questions for thematic analysis. Each RISE-Vac project partner distributed the questionnaire to one or two prisons in their country. Answers were collected from eight European prisons' directors or medical directors between November 2021-May 2022. RESULTS: According to our findings, the implementation modalities of COVID-19 vaccination services in the surveyed prisons were effective in improving PLP vaccination coverage. Strategies for optimal management of the vaccination campaign included: periodic time slot for PLP vaccination; new staff recruitment and task shifting; distribution of informational material both to PLP and prison staff. Key challenges included continuity of care after release, immunisation information system, and vaccine hesitancy. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study describing the implementation of COVID-19 vaccination services in European prisons, suggesting that the expansion of vaccination provision in prison is possible. There is no unique solution that will fit every country but commonalities likely to be important in the design and implementation of future vaccination campaigns targeting PLP emerged. Increased availability of vaccination services in prison is not only possible, but feasible and highly desirable, and can contribute to the reduction of health inequalities.

Oral administration of PEDV-dissolved Alg-CS gel induces high and sustained mucosal immunity in mice.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) is a serious disease in piglets that leads to high mortality. An effective measure that provides higher IgA levels in the intestine and milk is required to decrease losses. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) was dissolved in calcium alginate (Alg) and combined with chitosan (CS) via electrostatic interactions between cationic chitosan and anionic alginate to create a porous gel (Alg-CS+PEDV). The gel was used to immunize mice orally or in combination with subcutaneous injections of inactivated PEDV vaccine. At 12 and 24 days after immunization, levels of IgA and IgG in Alg-CS+PEDV were higher than with normal PEDV oral administration. At 24 days after immunization, the concentration of IFN-γ in Alg-CS+PEDV was higher than with normal PEDV oral administration. Furthermore, oral administration combining subcutaneous immunization induced higher levels of IgG and IgA than oral administration alone. Our study provides a new method for the preparation and administration of oral vaccines to achieve enhanced mucosal immunity against PEDV.

Perceptions of Racial-Ethnic Inequities in COVID-19 Healthcare and Willingness to Receive the COVID-19 Vaccine.

BACKGROUND: Perceptions of the US healthcare system can impact individuals' healthcare utilization, including vaccination intentions. This study examined the association between perceived racial-ethnic inequities in COVID-19 healthcare and willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. METHODS: This study used data from REACH-US, a nationally representative online survey of a large, diverse sample of U.S. adults (N=5145 January 26, 2021-March 3, 2021). Confirmatory factor and regression analyses examined a latent factor of perceived racial-ethnic inequities in COVID-19 healthcare, whether the factor was associated with willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and whether associations varied across racial-ethnic groups reported as probit estimates (B) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Perceived racial-ethnic inequities in COVID-19 healthcare were highest among Black/African American adults (mean latent factor score: 0.65 ± 0.43) and lowest among White adults (mean latent factor score: 0.04 ± 0.67). Black/African American (B = -0.08; 95% CI = -0.19, 0.03) and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (B = -0.08; 95% CI = -0.23, 0.07) adults who perceived greater racial-ethnic inequities in COVID-19 healthcare were less willing than participants who perceived lower inequities. In contrast, American Indian/Alaska Native (B = 0.15; 95% CI = -0.01, 0.30), Asian (B = 0.20; 95% CI = 0.08, 0.31), Hispanic/Latino (English language preference) (B = 0.22; 95% CI = 0.01, 0.43), Multiracial (B = 0.23; 95% CI = 0.09, 0.36), and White (B = 0.31; 95% CI = 0.19, 0.43) adults who perceived greater racial-ethnic inequities in COVID-19 healthcare were more willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine than participants perceiving higher inequities. CONCLUSIONS: Greater perceived racial-ethnic inequities in COVID-19 healthcare were associated with less willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine among Black/African American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander adults.

Public Discourse, User Reactions, and Conspiracy Theories on the X Platform About HIV Vaccines: Data Mining and Content Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The initiation of clinical trials for messenger RNA (mRNA) HIV vaccines in early 2022 revived public discussion on HIV vaccines after 3 decades of unsuccessful research. These trials followed the success of mRNA technology in COVID-19 vaccines but unfolded amid intense vaccine debates during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is crucial to gain insights into public discourse and reactions about potential new vaccines, and social media platforms such as X (formerly known as Twitter) provide important channels. OBJECTIVE: Drawing from infodemiology and infoveillance research, this study investigated the patterns of public discourse and message-level drivers of user reactions on X regarding HIV vaccines by analyzing posts using machine learning algorithms. We examined how users used different post types to contribute to topics and valence and how these topics and valence influenced like and repost counts. In addition, the study identified salient aspects of HIV vaccines related to COVID-19 and prominent anti-HIV vaccine conspiracy theories through manual coding. METHODS: We collected 36,424 English-language original posts about HIV vaccines on the X platform from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022. We used topic modeling and sentiment analysis to uncover latent topics and valence, which were subsequently analyzed across post types in cross-tabulation analyses and integrated into linear regression models to predict user reactions, specifically likes and reposts. Furthermore, we manually coded the 1000 most engaged posts about HIV and COVID-19 to uncover salient aspects of HIV vaccines related to COVID-19 and the 1000 most engaged negative posts to identify prominent anti-HIV vaccine conspiracy theories. RESULTS: Topic modeling revealed 3 topics: HIV and COVID-19, mRNA HIV vaccine trials, and HIV vaccine and immunity. HIV and COVID-19 underscored the connections between HIV vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines, as evidenced by subtopics about their reciprocal impact on development and various comparisons. The overall valence of the posts was marginally positive. Compared to self-composed posts initiating new conversations, there was a higher proportion of HIV and COVID-19-related and negative posts among quote posts and replies, which contribute to existing conversations. The topic of mRNA HIV vaccine trials, most evident in self-composed posts, increased repost counts. Positive valence increased like and repost counts. Prominent anti-HIV vaccine conspiracy theories often falsely linked HIV vaccines to concurrent COVID-19 and other HIV-related events. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight COVID-19 as a significant context for public discourse and reactions regarding HIV vaccines from both positive and negative perspectives. The success of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines shed a positive light on HIV vaccines. However, COVID-19 also situated HIV vaccines in a negative context, as observed in some anti-HIV vaccine conspiracy theories misleadingly connecting HIV vaccines with COVID-19. These findings have implications for public health communication strategies concerning HIV vaccines.

Undergraduate-level biology students' application of central dogma to understand COVID mRNA vaccines.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has underscored the importance of mRNA vaccines. The mechanism for how such vaccines work is related to the core biology topic of the central dogma, which students often misunderstand despite its importance. Therefore, we wanted to know whether students can apply their biology knowledge of central dogma to the real-world issue of how mRNA COVID vaccines work. Accordingly, we asked college biology students of different expertise levels how the COVID vaccine worked. Later, we cued them by telling them the vaccine contains mRNA and asked them what the mRNA does. We used thematic analysis to find common ideas in their responses. In the uncued condition, fewer than half of the students used central dogma-related ideas to explain what was in the vaccine or how the vaccine worked. Inaccurate ideas were present among all groups of biology students, particularly entering biology majors and non-biology majors, including the idea that the COVID vaccines contain a weakened, dead, or variant form of the COVID virus. After students were cued, many more students in all expertise groups expressed central dogma-related themes, showing that students could apply the knowledge of central dogma if prompted. Advanced biology majors were much more likely to state that the vaccines code for a viral protein, indicating their advanced application of central dogma concepts. These results highlight inaccurate ideas common among students and show changes in the ability to apply knowledge with student expertise level, which could inform future interventions to support student learning about vaccines and central dogma.

Promoting COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence and Access among Youth Experiencing Homelessness: Community-Engaged Public Health Practice.

BACKGROUND: Youth experiencing homelessness (YEH) face a wide range of complex barriers to COVID-19 vaccine confidence and access. OBJECTIVES: Describe our process for engaging a cross-sector team centering equity and youth voice; outline our intervention strategies to enhance COVID-19 vaccine confidence and access among YEH; and discuss lessons learned through this community-engaged process. METHODS: We engaged partners from across sectors, including youth-serving agencies, healthcare organizations, public health organizations, and YEH. We used focus groups, key informant interviews, and other community engagement strategies to develop and implement a series of interventions aimed to increase COVID-19 vaccine confidence and access among YEH. RESULTS: We identified youths' key concerns about vaccine confidence and access. To address these concerns, we implemented four community-driven interventions: youth-friendly messaging, health events, vaccine aftercare kits, and staff training. CONCLUSIONS: This community-engaged project highlighted the value of cross-sector partnership and consistent youth engagement in addressing vaccine confidence among YEH.

Vaccine Attitudes and Uptake Among Latino Residents of a Former COVID-19 Hotspot.

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified Prince William County (PWC), Va. as a hotspot with a high disease rate among Latinos. This study uses spatial, survey, and qualitative data to understand attitudes towards vaccine uptake among PWC Latinos. A quantitative analysis (n=266) estimates the association for vaccine acceptance among Latinos. Next, qualitative interviews with Latinos (n=37) examine vaccine attitudes. Finally, a spatial analysis identifies clusters of social vulnerability and low vaccine uptake in PWC and adjacent counties. Our findings show that a substantial proportion of PWC Latinos had low vaccination rates as of December 2022, two years after the vaccine's release. Side effects and safety and approval concerns were cited in both the quantitative and qualitative studies. Persistent vaccine disparities are concerning given the high hospitalization and mortality rates that prevailed among Latinos early in the pandemic.

Specific and off-target immune responses following COVID-19 vaccination with ChAdOx1-S and BNT162b2 vaccines-an exploratory sub-study of the BRACE trial.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic led to the rapid development and deployment of several highly effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. Recent studies suggest that these vaccines may also have off-target effects on the immune system. We sought to determine and compare the off-target effects of the adenovirus vector ChAdOx1-S (Oxford-AstraZeneca) and modified mRNA BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccines on immune responses to unrelated pathogens. METHODS: Prospective sub-study within the BRACE trial. Blood samples were collected from 284 healthcare workers before and 28 days after ChAdOx1-S or BNT162b2 vaccination. SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies were measured using ELISA, and whole blood cytokine responses to specific (SARS-CoV-2) and unrelated pathogen stimulation were measured by multiplex bead array. FINDINGS: Both vaccines induced robust SARS-CoV-2 specific antibody and cytokine responses. ChAdOx1-S vaccination increased cytokine responses to heat-killed (HK) Candida albicans and HK Staphylococcus aureus and decreased cytokine responses to HK Escherichia coli and BCG. BNT162b2 vaccination decreased cytokine response to HK E. coli and had variable effects on cytokine responses to BCG and resiquimod (R848). After the second vaccine dose, BNT162b2 recipients had greater specific and off-target cytokine responses than ChAdOx1-S recipients. INTERPRETATION: ChAdOx1-S and BNT162b2 vaccines alter cytokine responses to unrelated pathogens, indicative of potential off-target effects. The specific and off-target effects of these vaccines differ in their magnitude and breadth. The clinical relevance of these findings is uncertain and needs further study. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, National Health and Medical Research Council, Swiss National Science Foundation and the Melbourne Children's. BRACE trial funding is detailed in acknowledgements.

An update on the anti-Spike monoclonal antibody pipeline for SARS-CoV-2.

BACKGROUND: Anti-Spike monoclonal antibodies represent one of the most tolerable prophylaxis and therapies for COVID-19 in frail and immunocompromised patients. Unfortunately, viral evolution in Omicron has led all of them to failure. OBJECTIVES: We review here the current pipeline of anti-Spike mAb's, discussing in detail the most promising candidates. SOURCES: We scanned PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov and manufacturers' press releases for clinical studies on anti-Spike monoclonal antibodies. CONTENT: We present state-of-art data clinical progress for AstraZeneca's AZD3152, Invivyd's VYD222, Regeneron's REGN-17092 and Aerium Therapeutics' AER-800. IMPLICATIONS: The anti-Spike monoclonal antibody clinical pipeline is currently limited to few agents (most being single antibodies) with unknown efficacy against the dominant JN.1 sublineage. The field of antibody-based therapies requires boosting by both manufacturers and institutions.

Physical Activity at Different Life Stages and Its Consequence on the Initial Immunization and Inflammatory Response Against COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the influence of previous physical activity (PA) during childhood, adolescence, and current PA practice on the production of antibodies and inflammatory response between the first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. METHODS: Fifty-nine men and 56 women were evaluated before the first vaccine, and 12 weeks later, blood samples were taken to quantify production of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 immunoglobulin G antibodies and cytokines. Previous PA during childhood and adolescence was self-referred, and current PA was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. RESULTS: A positive and significant association was observed only between PA practice during adolescence and an increase in antibody production in adulthood (ß = 2012.077, 95% confidence interval, 257.7953-3766.358, P = .025). Individuals who practiced PA during adolescence showed higher production of antibodies between the first and second vaccine dose compared to nonpractitioners (P = .025) and those that accumulated ≥150 minutes per week of current moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA), and presented higher antibody production in relation to who did <150 minutes per week of MVPA (P = .046). Individuals that were practitioners during childhood produced higher G-CSF (P = .047), and those that accumulated ≥150 minutes per week of current MVPA demonstrated lower IP-10 levels (P = .033). However, PA practitioners during adolescence presented higher G-CSF (P = .025), IL-17 (P = .038), IL-1RA (P = .005), IL-1ß (P = .020), and IL-2 (P = .026) levels. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that adults that accumulated at least 150 minutes of MVPA per week or practiced PA during adolescence developed an improved immune and inflammatory response against COVID-19 vaccination.

Severe acute myositis and myocarditis on initiation of 6-weekly pembrolizumab post-COVID-19 mRNA vaccination.

We describe three cases of critical acute myositis with myocarditis occurring within 22 days of each other at a single institution, all within 1 month of receiving the initial cycle of the anti-PD-1 drug pembrolizumab. Analysis of T cell receptor repertoires from peripheral blood and tissues revealed a high degree of clonal expansion and public clones between cases, with several T cell clones expanded within the skeletal muscle putatively recognizing viral epitopes. All patients had recently received a COVID-19 mRNA booster vaccine prior to treatment and were positive for SARS-CoV2 Spike antibody. In conclusion, we report a series of unusually severe myositis and myocarditis following PD-1 blockade and the COVID-19 mRNA vaccination.

Post-selection Inference in Multiverse Analysis (PIMA): An Inferential Framework Based on the Sign Flipping Score Test.

When analyzing data, researchers make some choices that are either arbitrary, based on subjective beliefs about the data-generating process, or for which equally justifiable alternative choices could have been made. This wide range of data-analytic choices can be abused and has been one of the underlying causes of the replication crisis in several fields. Recently, the introduction of multiverse analysis provides researchers with a method to evaluate the stability of the results across reasonable choices that could be made when analyzing data. Multiverse analysis is confined to a descriptive role, lacking a proper and comprehensive inferential procedure. Recently, specification curve analysis adds an inferential procedure to multiverse analysis, but this approach is limited to simple cases related to the linear model, and only allows researchers to infer whether at least one specification rejects the null hypothesis, but not which specifications should be selected. In this paper, we present a Post-selection Inference approach to Multiverse Analysis (PIMA) which is a flexible and general inferential approach that considers for all possible models, i.e., the multiverse of reasonable analyses. The approach allows for a wide range of data specifications (i.e., preprocessing) and any generalized linear model; it allows testing the null hypothesis that a given predictor is not associated with the outcome, by combining information from all reasonable models of multiverse analysis, and provides strong control of the family-wise error rate allowing researchers to claim that the null hypothesis can be rejected for any specification that shows a significant effect. The inferential proposal is based on a conditional resampling procedure. We formally prove that the Type I error rate is controlled, and compute the statistical power of the test through a simulation study. Finally, we apply the PIMA procedure to the analysis of a real dataset on the self-reported hesitancy for the COronaVIrus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine before and after the 2020 lockdown in Italy. We conclude with practical recommendations to be considered when implementing the proposed procedure.

A report on neurogenic bladder in COVID-19 vaccine-associated acute transverse myelitis.

INTRODUCTION: Acute transverse myelitis (ATM) is a rare neurological complication of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines. Various vaccines have been linked to ATM, such as non-replicating viral vectors, ribonucleic acid, and inactivated vaccines. An ATM case is presented here involving the BNT162b2 vaccine leading to asymmetrical incomplete paraplegia and neurogenic bladder. CASE PRESENTATION: A 66-year-old male developed urinary retention one day after his second dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine, followed by rapidly progressing lower limb weakness. Clinical examination showed asymmetrical paraparesis, reduced sensation below the T8 level, including perianal sensation, and loss of ankle and anal reflexes. Laboratory tests were largely unremarkable, while the spine MRI revealed thickened conus medullaris with a mild increase in T2/STIR signal intensity and subtle enhancement post gadolinium. Following treatment with methylprednisolone, plasmapheresis, and immunoglobulin, and a rehabilitation program, the patient achieved good motor and sensory recovery, but the bladder dysfunction persisted. Single-channel cystometry indicated neurogenic detrusor underactivity and reduced bladder sensation, as evidenced by low-pressure and compliant bladder. The urethral sphincter appeared intact or overactive. The post-void residual urine was significant, necessitating prolonged intermittent catheterisation. DISCUSSION: Bladder dysfunction due to the COVID-19 vaccine-associated ATM is not as commonly reported as motor or sensory deficits. To our knowledge, this is the first case to highlight a neurogenic bladder that necessitates prolonged intermittent catheterisation as a consequence of COVID-19 vaccine-associated ATM. This report highlights the rare complication of the neurogenic bladder resulting from the BNT162b2 vaccine. Early detection and treatment are crucial to prevent long-term complications.

"Access to healthcare is a human right": a constructivist study exploring the impact and potential of a hospital-community partnered COVID-19 community response team for Toronto homeless services and congregate living settings.

BACKGROUND: Individuals experiencing homelessness face unique physical and mental health challenges, increased morbidity, and premature mortality. COVID -19 creates a significant heightened risk for those living in congregate sheltering spaces. In March 2020, the COVID-19 Community Response Team formed at Women's College Hospital, to support Toronto shelters and congregate living sites to manage and prevent outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 using a collaborative model of onsite mobile testing and infection prevention. From this, the Women's College COVID-19 vaccine program emerged, where 14 shelters were identified to co-design and support the administration of vaccine clinics within each shelter. This research seeks to evaluate the impact of this partnership model and its future potential in community-centered integrated care through three areas of inquiry: (1) vaccine program evaluation and lessons learned; (2) perceptions on hospital/community partnership; (3) opportunities to advance hospital-community partnerships. METHODS: Constructivist grounded theory was used to explore perceptions and experiences of this partnership from the voices of shelter administrators. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with administrators from 10 shelters using maximum variation purposive sampling. A constructivist-interpretive paradigm was used to determine coding and formation of themes: initial, focused, and theoretical. RESULTS: Data analysis revealed five main categories, 16 subcategories, and one core category. The core category "access to healthcare is a human right; understand our communities" emphasizes access to healthcare is a consistent barrier for the homeless population. The main categories revealed during a time of confusion, the hospital was seen as credible and trustworthy. However, the primary focus of many shelters lies in housing, and attention is often not placed on health resourcing, solidifying partnerships, accountability, and governance structures therein. Health advocacy, information sharing tables, formalized partnerships and educating health professionals were identified by shelter administrators as avenues to advance intersectoral relationship building. CONCLUSION: Hospital-community programs can alleviate some of the ongoing health concerns faced by shelters - during a time of COVID-19 or not. In preparation for future pandemics, access to care and cohesion within the health system requires the continuous engagement in relationship-building between hospitals and communities to support co-creation of innovative models of care, to promote health for all.

Multiple inborn errors of type I IFN immunity in a 33-year-old male with a fatal case of COVID-19.

The host genetic inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) have been shown to contribute to susceptibility to life-threatening coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as it had been associated previously with other viral infections. Most genetic association studies have described IEIs as a monogenic defect, while there have been no reports of patients with multiple inherited immune deficiencies. This is a complex case of IEIs predisposing to severe viral infections in an unvaccinated 33-year-old male patient. The patient was admitted with no respiratory symptoms, showed a SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive test on the second day of admission, started developing progressive lung consolidation within three days of hospitalization, and was moved from non-invasive to mechanical ventilation within 12 days of hospitalization. Impaired production of type I IFN was detected in patient PBMCs treated with poly(I:C), at both mRNA and protein levels. Whole exome sequencing revealed three mutations across type I IFN production pathway, which were predicted to be loss-of-function (pLOF). The three mutations were predicted to predispose to severe viral infections: monoallelic R488X TLR3, monoallelic His684Arg TLR3, and biallelic Val363Met IRF3. Functional analysis confirmed that all these mutations dysregulated the type I IFN pathway. Evaluation of TLR3 and IRF3 IFN-ß1 luciferase reporter activity showed a hypomorphic suppression of function. TOPO TA cloning was used to ascertain the positioning of both TLR3 variants, indicating that both variants were on the same allele. We have described a unique complex IEI patient with multiple mutations, particularly along type I IFN production pathway.

The Uptake of Pneumococcal and Seasonal Influenza Vaccinations Based on Perceptions and Attitudes Toward the COVID-19 Vaccine Among Patients With Diabetes.

Objective In this study, we aimed to assess the rates of pneumococcal and seasonal influenza vaccinations among elderly and nonelderly diabetes patients and examine their perceptions and attitudes toward the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine. Methods A single-center study was conducted among patients with diabetes, employing a structured survey encompassing sociodemographic data, vaccination records, and the COVID-19 vaccine perception and attitude scale. Results Among the 280 diabetes patients in our study, the vaccination rates for COVID-19, seasonal influenza, and pneumococcal vaccines were 96.1%, 16.8%, and 17.5%, respectively. A higher cumulative dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine was associated with older age (r = 0.463; p<0.001), increased safety score (r = 0.479; p<0.001), and lower conspiracy theory score (r = -0.336; p<0.001). Participants who had received COVID-19 and influenza vaccines were observed to have significantly higher safety scores related to COVID-19 vaccines (p<0.001; d = 2.381 and p = 0.008; d = 0.525, respectively). Notably, vaccination rates for influenza and pneumococcus were significantly different between nonelderly and elderly patients (8.7% vs. 29.6%; p<0.001 and 13.4% vs. 24.1%; p = 0.022). Elderly patients with diabetes were 3.3 times more likely to receive the influenza vaccine than nonelderly participants [odds ratio (OR) = 3.319; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.592 - 6.920; p = 0.001] and had a higher safety score related to COVID-19 vaccines (OR = 1.076; 95% CI = 1.011 - 1.146; p = 0.021). Conclusions Both influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates were below the desired targets in this study. The vaccination rates among the nonelderly diabetes population suggest that this group may be more likely to neglect to receive vaccination compared to the elderly diabetes population. The association between vaccination rates and post-pandemic safety perceptions highlights the critical need to implement public health strategies specifically designed to address and improve safety-related information dissemination.

Case report: Atypical case of autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytopathy following COVID-19 vaccination refractory to immunosuppressive treatments.

A 54-year-old Japanese man presented with headache and fever the day after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. He became deeply unconscious within a week. Brain MRI showed periventricular linear enhancements and a few spotty lesions in the cerebral white matter. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing showed mild pleocytosis. He was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone and plasma exchange. However, the white matter lesions enlarged to involve the brainstem and cerebellum, and long cord spinal lesions appeared. Anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) antibody was positive in the CSF and serum, and he was therefore diagnosed as autoimmune GFAP-astrocytopathy (GFAP-A). In addition, high-dose immunoglobulin therapy was administered twice, but his symptoms did not improve; the white matter lesions enlarged further, and modified Rankin Scale score increased to 5. A brain biopsy specimen showed infiltration of macrophages and CD4 + lymphocytes together with neuron and oligodendrocytic injuries and glial scar. Although GFAP-A generally responds well to steroids, the present case developed GFAP-A following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, with refractory to intensive immunosuppressive therapy and atypical pathologic findings of infiltration of CD4 + lymphocytes and demyelination.

Review of COVID-19 Therapeutics by Mechanism: From Discovery to Approval.

The global research and pharmaceutical community rapidly mobilized to develop treatments for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Existing treatments have been repurposed and new drugs have emerged. Here we summarize mechanisms and clinical trials of COVID-19 therapeutics approved or in development. Two reviewers, working independently, reviewed published data for approved COVID-19 vaccines and drugs, as well as developmental pipelines, using databases from the following organizations: United States Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA), Japanese Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), and ClinicalTrials.gov. In all, 387 drugs were found for initial review. After removing unrelated trials and drugs, 66 drugs were selected, including 17 approved drugs and 49 drugs under development. These drugs were classified into six categories: 1) drugs targeting the viral life cycle 2) Anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Monoclonal Antibodies, 3) immunomodulators, 4) anti-coagulants, 5) COVID-19-induced neuropathy drugs, and 6) other therapeutics. Among the 49 drugs under development are the following: 6 drugs targeting the viral life cycle, 12 immunosuppression drugs, 2 immunostimulants, 2 HIF-PHD targeting drugs, 3 GM-CSF targeting drugs, 5 anti-coagulants, 2 COVID-19-induced neuropathy drugs, and 17 others. This review provides insight into mechanisms of action, properties, and indications for COVID-19 medications.

COVID-19 vaccinations for patients with epilepsy in Guizhou Province, China: A cross-sectional study.

Several COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for emergency use according to China's immunization programs. These vaccines has created hope for patients with epilepsy, because the vaccines can help to reduce their risk of becoming infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The aim of this study was to investigate the COVID-19 vaccine safety in patients with epilepsy. Here, we assessed the time of symptom control and the features of adverse events of seizure patients following their COVID-19 vaccinations. The results showed that adverse events of COVID-19 vaccinations for epilepsy patients included local pain at the injection site, dizziness and headache, epileptic attack, somnolence, limb weakness, limb pain, allergy, and fever. In addition, the average recovery time of the adverse events was approximately 42 h. More importantly, our study showed that it was relatively safe to vaccinate epilepsy patients who did not experience seizures for approximately 12 months prior to the immunization date.