Predictors of seasonal influenza and COVID-19 vaccination coverage among adults in Tennessee during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has convoluted hesitancy toward vaccines, including the seasonal influenza (flu) vaccine. Because of COVID-19, the flu season has become more complicated; therefore, it is important to understand all the factors influencing the uptake of these vaccines to inform intervention targets. This article assesses factors related to the uptake of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines among adults in Tennessee. Methods: A cross-sectional, secondary data analysis of 1,400 adults was conducted in Tennessee. The adult sample came from two data sources: Data source 1 completed a baseline survey from January to March 2022, and data source 2 was completed from May to August 2022. Data on vaccine attitudes, facilitators and barriers, and communication needs were collected via random digit dial by Scientific Telephone Samples (STS). Two multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to predict sociodemographic and overall vaccine-related factors associated with receipt or non-receipt (referent) of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines. Results: Approximately 78% of the adult sample had received the COVID-19 vaccination. A significant positive association for COVID-19 vaccine uptake was seen among those who were older (aged 50-65) (aOR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2-3.2), Black (aOR = 2.0; 95% CI:1.3-2.8), and had a college education and higher (aOR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.5-3.6). However, there was a significant negative association for persons reporting they were extremely religious (aOR = 0.5; 95% CI:0.3-0.9). Over 56% of the adult sample had received the influenza vaccination this season. Those who had a higher annual household income ($80,000+) (aOR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.3-2.6) and had health insurance (aOR = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.4-4.8) had a significant positive association with influenza vaccine receipt. However, those who were employed part-time or were unemployed had a significant negative association for influenza vaccine receipt (aOR = 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5-0.9). Both COVID-19 and influenza vaccine receipt had strongly significant positive trends with increasing belief in effectiveness and trust (p < 0.0001) and strongly significant negative trends with higher levels of overall vaccine hesitancy (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Strategies to increase COVID-19 and influenza vaccination should be age-specific, focus on increasing geographical and financial access, and offer tailored messages to address concerns about these vaccines.

Influences of sociodemographic characteristics and parental HPV vaccination hesitancy on HPV vaccination coverage in five US states.

BACKGROUND: In the United States (US), half of new human papillomavirus (HPV) infections occur among young people aged 15-24 years. Despite the effectiveness of HPV vaccination in protecting against HPV-associated cancers, its coverage among adolescents remains suboptimal. This study examined the association of sociodemographic characteristics and HPV vaccination hesitancy with HPV vaccination coverage in five US states with disproportionately low adolescent coverage rates compared to the national average. METHODS: Responses to an online Qualtrics survey from 926 parents of children aged 9-17 years in Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, and Southern Illinois in July 2021 were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression to estimate the association of sociodemographic characteristics and HPV vaccination hesitancy with HPV vaccination coverage. RESULTS: Of the parents, 78 % were female, 76 % were non-Hispanic White, 61.9 % lived in rural areas, 22 % were classified as HPV vaccine hesitant, and 42 % had vaccinated their oldest child between the ages of 9-17 years against HPV. Children of vaccine hesitant parents were less likely to have received any doses of the HPV vaccine than children of non-vaccine hesitant parents (AOR: 0.17, 95 % CI:0.11-0.27). Male children were less likely to have initiated the HPV vaccine series than female children (AOR: 0.70, 95 % CI:0.50-0.97). Older children (13-17 vs 9-12 years), receiving the meningococcal conjugate or most recent seasonal influenza vaccine were all associated with higher likelihoods of receiving any doses of the HPV vaccine (AOR: 6.01, 95 % CI:3.98-9.08; AOR: 2.24, 95 % CI:1.27-3.95; AOR: 2.41, 95 % CI:1.73-3.36, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent HPV vaccination coverage remains low in our targeted states. Children's age, sex, and parental vaccine hesitancy were significantly associated with likelihood of HPV vaccination. These findings offer the opportunity for targeted interventions among parents in regions with low vaccine uptake and underscore the importance of developing and implementing strategies to address parental HPV vaccination hesitancy to improve uptake in the US.

HPV Vaccine Awareness and Knowledge Among Women Living with HIV.

Cervical cancer risk is increased among women living with HIV (WLH). Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination has been shown to be safe and immunogenic among WLH. We examined HPV vaccine awareness and HPV knowledge among WLH. This cross-sectional study collected data from 145 WLH between March 2011 and April 2012. An interviewer-administered survey assessed HPV vaccine awareness and knowledge. Stata/IC 13 was used to perform chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Our sample was 90 % non-Hispanic black and 64 % earned <$10,000/year. Few (38 %) had heard of the HPV vaccine. Half (50 %) knew that HPV caused cervical cancer. HPV vaccine awareness was ten times higher among WLH who knew HPV caused cervical cancer (OR = 10.17; 95 % CI 3.82-27.06). HPV vaccine awareness is low among WLH. Cancer prevention efforts aimed at raising awareness about the HPV vaccine and increasing knowledge about HPV are necessary first steps in reducing cervical cancer disparities among WLH.

Use of random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis to compare Babesia bovis and B. bigemina isolates.

Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis provides characteristic fingerprints for Babesia bovis and B. bigemina. This genetic profile reflects similarities and minor differences between closely related regional isolates and the greater diversity representative of species from distant geographic locations.

Fluorescence-activated cell sorting-derived clones of Babesia bigemina show karyotype polymorphism.

Use of the fluorescence-activated cell sorter proved to be an accurate and highly efficient means for cloning Babesia parasites. These qualities were examined by separating a mixed population of Babesia-infected bovine erythrocytes composed of two isolates with different karyotypes. Direct evidence of polymorphism was detected during comparison of the resultant clones.

Biotin-dextran: a sensitive anterograde tracer for neuroanatomic studies in rat and monkey.

The properties of a new anterograde tracer, biotin-dextran (BD), are reported. Iontophoretic or pressure injections of BD in the spinal cord of rats and monkeys revealed terminal-like BD label in many regions of the brain. The BD label was visualized by an avidin-biotin reaction combined with diaminobenzidine, with and without nickel enhancement. This reaction resulted in permanent label and revealed the fine morphology of terminal boutons and en-passant endings. Biotin-dextran is an excellent anterograde tracer that can also be visualized at the electron microscopic level, used in combination with other retrograde and anterograde tracers and with immunohistochemical labeling of neurotransmitters.

Inexpensive scintillation camera study device.

A commerically available inexpensive calculator was modified and mounted next to one of the display oscilloscopes on a scintillation-camera console. This enabled the technologist to dial in each patient's identification number, which then appeared on every frame of the 35-mm film used. By using this device, labeling errors have been reduced to a minimum.