RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to examine vaccine hesitancy for COVID-19 vaccinations, comparing immigrant and non-immigrant older adults (aged ≥60 years), after accounting for group-level and individual-level characteristics, and the interaction between immigrant and socio-economic status. STUDY DESIGN: This study used a retrospective cohort design. METHODS: Analyses were conducted using R version 4.3.2. Logistic regression models had the dependent variables of obtained any COVID-19 vaccinations vs not and obtained all four required COVID-19 vaccinations vs not. The linear regression model's dependent variable was the interval in days between the COVID-19 vaccination availability and the date of obtaining the first COVID-19 vaccination. RESULTS: In the cohort of older adults (n = 35,109), immigrants were less likely than non-immigrants to obtain a single COVID-19 vaccination (P < 0.001) or the full series of required COVID-19 vaccinations (P < 0.001); however, immigrants vs non-immigrants delayed only in obtaining the first vaccination (P < 0.001) but not the remaining required COVID-19 vaccinations. In the linear regression model, a longer interval before obtaining the first COVID-19 vaccination was associated with immigrant status (P < 0.001), lower socio-economic status (SES; P < 0.001), and the interaction between immigrant status and low SES (P < 0.001), while a shorter interval was associated with preventive behaviours of obtaining seasonal influenza (P < 0.001) or pneumococcal (P < 0.001) vaccinations previously. CONCLUSIONS: Immigrant status in general, and especially when combined with low SES, is a major risk factor for vaccination hesitancy. Reorienting immigrants to embrace preventive healthcare behaviours is key. Culturally appropriate communication campaigns may improve the dissemination of effective vaccination-related information to immigrant communities.
RESUMO
AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: It is widely accepted that the genetic make-up of the subject plays a pivotal role in the development of insulin resistance and ß cell failure. The objective of this study was to examine whether the same or distinct genetic backgrounds contribute to the development of insulin resistance and ß cell failure. METHODS: We examined insulin sensitivity and ß cell function in lean normal glucose tolerance subjects from 3 multigeneration Arab families. Families 1 and 2 had strong history of Type 2 diabetes (T2DM), while no member of family 3 had T2DM. RESULTS: Subjects in family 1 manifested increased basal plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentration and impaired suppression of plasma FFA during the OGTT compared to subjects in family 3. Subjects in family 2 had comparable fasting plasma FFA and suppression of plasma FFA during the OGTT to family 3. Both the absolute plasma glucose concentrations, and incremental area under the plasma glucose curve (ΔG0-120) during the OGTT were comparable in subjects of families 1 and 2, and were decreased in subjects of family 3. Whole body and muscle insulin sensitivity were comparable in subjects from families 2 and 3, and both were significantly decreased in subjects of family 1. Beta cell function was comparable in subjects of families 1 and 3 and was significantly decreased in subjects of family 2. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that distinct genetic background contributes to the development of insulin resistance and ß cell dysfunction in Arab individuals.