Barriers to vaccine acceptance in the adult population of mainland Finland, 2021.

There has been a lack of information on vaccine acceptance for Finnish adults. We conducted a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected through the Finnish Medicines Agency Medicine Barometer 2021 survey (response rate: 20.6%). We described and explained vaccine acceptance by investigating the associations between socio-demographic factors and statements using logistic regression and conducted a factor analysis. The majority of respondents (n = 2081) considered vaccines to be safe (93%), effective (97%), and important (95%). However, 20% and 14% felt they did not have enough information about vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), respectively. Respondents aged 18-39 were 2.8 times more likely to disagree that they had enough information about VPDs compared to respondents aged 60-79 (p < 0.001), while respondents with poorer self-perceived health were 1.8 times more likely to declare not having enough information about vaccines (p < 0.001). We generated three-factor dimensions from the eight statements. They were related to 'Confidence and attitudes towards vaccines', 'Access to information on vaccines and VPDs', and 'Debate on vaccine issues', which may reflect the underlying thinking patterns. Access to and understanding of information about vaccines and VPDs need to be improved for Finnish adults to increase vaccine acceptance and uptake, thus preventing the spread of VPDs.

Smoking cessation intervention prior to orthopedic surgery: A study protocol to determine patient outcomes and feasibility.

The aim of the study is to analyze the effect of smoking and smoking cessation on the incidence of complications among orthopedic and hand surgery patients, and to determine the feasibility of smoking cessation intervention, as well as factors predicting success in smoking cessation. Orthopedic and hand surgery patients will be invited to participate in the study, which will recruit 550 participants (at least 20% daily smokers). A participant will be defined as a daily smoker if he/she reports daily smoking and/or laboratory tests show active smoking. Data will be collected using a self-reported questionnaire and from medical records. Smokers will receive information about the benefits of smoking cessation and will be encouraged to quit. Medication or nicotine replacement therapy will be prescribed. Laboratory tests will be taken two weeks before and two weeks after surgery. Follow-up phone calls will be made at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. The primary outcome is any complication, defined as a prolonged stay in hospital or any additional visit to or measure taken by a health service during the 12 months after surgery. Data on complications are mainly obtained from personal health records and from the information received at the follow-up; the rest of the data will be collected from the register of healthcare-associated infections. Secondary outcomes are the number and types of complications. The sample (n=550) was calculated to observe a 10% difference in complications between smokers and non-smokers (5% alpha level and 80% power), considering a 10% drop-out rate. Logistic regression and log-linear models will be used for data analyses.

High secondary attack rate and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in household transmission study participants, Finland 2020-2021.

Background: Household transmission studies offer the opportunity to assess both secondary attack rate (SAR) and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies over time. Methods: In Spring 2020, we invited confirmed COVID-19 cases and their household members to four visits, where we collected nasopharyngeal and serum samples over 28 days after index case onset. We calculated SAR based on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies (NAb) and assessed the persistence of NAb and IgG antibodies (Ab) against SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein and nucleoprotein. Results: SAR was 45% (39/87), including 35 symptomatic secondary cases. During the initial 28-day follow-up, 62% (80/129) of participants developed NAb. Of those that seroconverted, 90% (63/70), 85% (63/74), and 78% (45/58) still had NAb to early B-lineage SARS-CoV-2 3, 6, and 12 months after the onset of the index case. Anti-spike IgG Ab persisted in 100% (69/69), 97% (72/74), and 93% (55/59) of seroconverted participants after 3, 6, and 12 months, while anti-nucleoprotein IgG Ab levels waned faster, persisting in 99% (68/69), 78% (58/74), and 55% (39/71) of participants, respectively. Conclusion: Following detection of a COVID-19 case in a household, other members had a high risk of becoming infected. NAb to early B-lineage SARS-CoV-2 persisted for at least a year in most cases.