Knowledge of hepatitis B infection, hepatitis B vaccine, and vaccination status with its associated factors among healthcare workers in Kampot and Kep Provinces, Cambodia.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare Workers (HCWs) are susceptible to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and are advised to receive vaccination. However, vaccination rates remain low in developing countries. There is little data concerning Hepatitis B (HepB) vaccination and information regarding HBV knowledge among HCWs in Cambodia. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge of HBV infection, HepB vaccine, and vaccination status with its associated factors among HCWs in Cambodia. METHODS: A Cross-sectional study was conducted among HCWs in Kampot and Kep Provinces, Cambodia, from September to October 2023 using a questionnaire survey. A total of 261 HCWs were recruited from 1,309 individuals working in all 83 health facilities using systematic random sampling methods. Statistical analyses including the χ2-test and multivariate logistic regression were conducted to identify factors associated with vaccination among the participants. RESULTS: Among 259 participants, 62.9% showed good knowledge of HBV infection, and 65.6% demonstrated good knowledge of the HepB vaccine. 59.8% of the participants had received the HepB vaccine, while 40.2% remained unvaccinated. Analysis showed that HCWs working at Provincial Health Department/Operational Districts and Provincial Referral Hospital/Referral Hospitals were more likely to be vaccinated compared to those at Health Centers [AOR = 6.5; CI = 1.1-39.5, p = 0.0403; AOR = 2.8, CI = 1.0-7.8, p = 0.0412], respectively. Furthermore, individuals with good knowledge of the HBV infection and vaccine were more likely to receive the vaccine compared to those with inadequate knowledge [AOR = 6.3; CI = 3.3-12.3, p < .0001; AOR = 3.7, CI = 1.9-7.4, p = 0.0001], respectively. Within the unvaccinated HCWs, 32% reported high vaccine costs as a barrier, 33% mentioned workplace vaccine was not for adults, and 59% reported insufficient education on adult HepB vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: The HepB vaccination coverage among HCWs is at 59.8%, which is below the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommendation rate of 100%. Knowledge of HBV infection and HepB vaccine were good predictive factors for vaccination. The high cost of vaccine, workplace vaccine not for adults, and insufficient education on adult vaccination were found as barriers to vaccination. This study underscores the importance of providing education to HCWs on HBV infection and the HepB vaccine. Furthermore, it highlights the need for a policy that ensures free vaccination for HCWs.

Hepatitis B vaccination status among patients with end-stage kidney disease on haemodialysis in Ethiopia: a multi-center cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease patients, especially those on hemodialysis, are at increased risk of developing hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Guidelines suggest that all patients with chronic kidney disease patients should be vaccinated against HBV, but these guidelines are sub-optimally implemented. Notably, there is a lack of studies in Ethiopia examining the hepatitis B vaccination status among patients with end-stage renal disease. OBJECTIVE: To assess the vaccination status of hepatitis B and associated factors among people with end-stage renal disease who were on hemodialysis. METHODS: A multi-center cross-sectional observational study was conducted in six randomly selected dialysis centers in Ethiopia, from May 2023 to September 2023. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate factors associated with vaccination status. A person is considered to be vaccinated against hepatitis B if he/ she has taken at least one dose of HBV. Vaccination status was determined by patient's recall and verification from medical record. RESULTS: Only 16% of patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis were vaccinated against hepatitis B virus (16.6%; with CI = 12.18, 21.83), of which 30% had received one dose, 57.5% had two doses, 12.5% had three doses, and only five had a booster dose. Post-secondary education (AOR = 5.47; 95% CI = 1.41, 21.2; P < 0.014) and dialysis for more than three years (AOR = 19.75; 95% CI = 4.06, 96.1; P < 0.001) were significant factors associated with having received hepatitis B vaccination. CONCLUSION: Only a small minority of Ethiopian hemodialysis patients have received hepatitis B vaccination. The level of education of patients and the duration of time on dialysis were significant associated factors that affected the vaccination status of patients with end-stage renal disease. So, strong intervention is needed according to the identified factors to raise the vaccination status of patients.

Factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy after stroke: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The vaccination status of post-stroke patients, who are at high risk of severe outcomes from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a significant concern, yet it remains unclear. We aimed to explore the vaccination status, factors associated with vaccine hesitancy, and adverse effects after vaccination among post-stroke patients. METHODS: This multi-center observational study enrolled hospitalized post-stroke patients from six Chinese hospitals (Oct 1, 2020 - Mar 31, 2021), examining vaccine uptake and self-reported reasons for vaccine hesitancy, utilizing logistic regression to investigate risk factors for vaccine hesitancy, and recording any adverse reactions post-vaccination. RESULTS: Of the total 710 post-stroke patients included in the study, 430 (60.6%) had completed the recommended full-3 dose SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, with 176 (24.8%) remaining unvaccinated. The most common reasons for vaccine hesitancy were concerns about vaccine side effects (41.5%) and impaired mobility (33.9%). Logistic regression identified advanced age (aOR = 1.97, 95%CI: 1.36-2.85, P = 0.001), lower Barthel Index score (aOR = 0.88, 95%CI: 0.82-0.93, P = 0.018), higher Modified Rankin Scale score (aOR = 1.85, 95%CI: 1.32-2.56, P = 0.004), and poorer usual activity level of EuroQol 5-Dimension (aOR = 2.82, 95%CI: 1.51-5.28, P = 0.001) as independent risk factors for vaccine hesitancy. Approximately 14.8% reported minor adverse reactions, mainly pain at the injection site. CONCLUSION: We found that post-stroke patients have insufficient SARS-CoV-2 vaccination rates, with key risk factors for vaccine hesitancy including concerns about side effects, advanced age, and functional impairments. No severe adverse reactions were observed among the vaccinated population.

Describing the Lived Experience and Resource Needs of Individuals With Long COVID.

Individuals with long COVID report diverse symptoms lasting weeks or months after initial infection, causing significant psychosocial distress. Navigating health care interactions are often difficult for these individuals due to the diffuse nature of their symptoms, a lack of effective treatment options, and skepticism from some providers. To better understand these challenges, this study sought to further describe the lived experience of individuals with long COVID. A survey was conducted with individuals evaluated for long COVID at a specialty clinic (n = 200), which included questions about prior conditions, symptoms, use of medical and support services, and information and resource needs. Participants reported a mean of 10.75 persistent symptoms, the most common being fatigue and difficulty concentrating, with broad effects on daily functioning. Participants saw a mean of 5.92 providers for treatment of their symptoms, and 88.5% identified health care providers as a trusted source of information. Interest in research findings (60.5%) and opportunities for participation (47.5%) were moderate and varied by COVID vaccination status. Unvaccinated individuals (n = 27) also reported less trust in government sources of information, less college education, lower household income, and greater likelihood of having public insurance. Our findings suggest that individuals with long COVID experience many ongoing and complex symptoms with diverse effects on daily living; that health care providers are an important source for public health messaging about long COVID; and that unvaccinated individuals are likely to have differing needs and receptiveness to information than vaccinated individuals with long COVID.

[Vaccination status and factors associated with pneumococcal vaccination in geriatric short-stay care]. / Statut vaccinal et facteurs associés à la vaccination antipneumococcique en court séjour gériatrique.

Nearly two-thirds of geriatric short-stay patients were eligible for pneumococcal vaccination. Among patients eligible for vaccination, less than 5 % had received at least one injection of pneumococcal vaccine on admission. We found no modifiable factors associated with vaccination status, but several avenues for improving vaccination coverage.

The representative COVID-19 cohort Munich (KoCo19): from the beginning of the pandemic to the Delta virus variant.

BACKGROUND: Population-based serological studies allow to estimate prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections despite a substantial number of mild or asymptomatic disease courses. This became even more relevant for decision making after vaccination started. The KoCo19 cohort tracks the pandemic progress in the Munich general population for over two years, setting it apart in Europe. METHODS: Recruitment occurred during the initial pandemic wave, including 5313 participants above 13 years from private households in Munich. Four follow-ups were held at crucial times of the pandemic, with response rates of at least 70%. Participants filled questionnaires on socio-demographics and potential risk factors of infection. From Follow-up 2, information on SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was added. SARS-CoV-2 antibody status was measured using the Roche Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 anti-N assay (indicating previous infection) and the Roche Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 anti-S assay (indicating previous infection and/or vaccination). This allowed us to distinguish between sources of acquired antibodies. RESULTS: The SARS-CoV-2 estimated cumulative sero-prevalence increased from 1.6% (1.1-2.1%) in May 2020 to 14.5% (12.7-16.2%) in November 2021. Underreporting with respect to official numbers fluctuated with testing policies and capacities, becoming a factor of more than two during the second half of 2021. Simultaneously, the vaccination campaign against the SARS-CoV-2 virus increased the percentage of the Munich population having antibodies, with 86.8% (85.5-87.9%) having developed anti-S and/or anti-N in November 2021. Incidence rates for infections after (BTI) and without previous vaccination (INS) differed (ratio INS/BTI of 2.1, 0.7-3.6). However, the prevalence of infections was higher in the non-vaccinated population than in the vaccinated one. Considering the whole follow-up time, being born outside Germany, working in a high-risk job and living area per inhabitant were identified as risk factors for infection, while other socio-demographic and health-related variables were not. Although we obtained significant within-household clustering of SARS-CoV-2 cases, no further geospatial clustering was found. CONCLUSIONS: Vaccination increased the coverage of the Munich population presenting SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, but breakthrough infections contribute to community spread. As underreporting stays relevant over time, infections can go undetected, so non-pharmaceutical measures are crucial, particularly for highly contagious strains like Omicron.

Hepatitis B vaccination coverage and associated factors among medical students: a cross-sectional study in Bosaso, Somalia, 2021.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a leading cause of liver cancer and remains a global public health concern. The risk of acquiring HBV is higher in HCWs than in non-HCWs. Medical students are considered a high-risk group because similar to HCWs, they tend to be exposed to body fluids and blood during training in clinical settings. New infections can be effectively prevented and eliminated with an increased coverage of HBV vaccination. The purpose of this study was to evaluate HBV immunization coverage and associated factors among medical students attending universities in Bosaso, Somalia. METHODOLOGY: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted. A stratified sampling method was employed to draw a sample from four universities in Bosaso. From each university, participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed among 247 medical students. The data were analysed with SPSS version 21, and the findings are presented in tables and proportions. The chi-square test was used to measure statistical associations. RESULTS: Although 73.7% of the respondents had an above-average knowledge level of HBV and 95.9% knew that HBV can be prevented by vaccination, only 2.8% were fully immunized, while 5.3% were partially immunized. The students reported six main reasons for not being vaccinated: unavailability of the vaccine (32.8%), high vaccine cost (26.7%), fear of vaccine side effects (12.6%), lack of trust in vaccine quality (8.5%), lack of awareness about where to get vaccinated (5.7%), and lack of time (2.8%). Occupation and the availability of HBV vaccination in the workplace were associated with HBV vaccine uptake (p values of 0.005 and 0.047, respectively). CONCLUSION: HBV immunization coverage among medical students was extremely low (2.8%), indicating the urgent need for increased vaccination coverage in this population. This should start with evidence-based advocacy for the development of a clear national HBV elimination policy, followed by implementing effective, large-scale immunization strategies and interventions. Future studies should expand the sample size to include multiple cities for increased representativeness and conduct HBV titre tests among participants.

Associations between COVID-19 vaccine uptake, race/ethnicity, and political party affiliation.

Despite widespread availability of vaccines, COVID-19 is a leading cause of death in the United States (US), and sociodemographic disparities in vaccine uptake remain. Race/ethnicity, partisanship, and perception of peer vaccination status are strong predictors of vaccine uptake, but research is limited among some racial/ethnic groups with small populations. The current study used an online survey to examine the relationship between these factors among a diverse sample of US adults (n = 1,674), with oversampling of racial and ethnic minorities. Respondents provided sociodemographic information and answered questions regarding COVID-19 vaccination status, political affiliation, perception of peers' vaccination status, COVID-19 death exposure, and previous COVID-19 infection. Respondents who identified as Asian American had higher odds of being vaccinated, whereas those who identified as Black/African American or American Indian or Alaska Native (AIAN) had lower odds. Respondents who identified as Independent/Other or Republican had lower vaccination odds. Respondents who perceived anything less than nearly all of their peers were vaccinated had lower vaccination odds. Further, lack of a primary care provider, younger age, and lower educational attainment were associated with lower vaccination odds. Findings may help to determine where additional work is needed to improve vaccine uptake in the US. Results indicate the need for intentional and tailored vaccination programs in Black/African American and AIAN communities; the need to understand how media and political actors develop vaccination messaging and impact vaccine uptake; and the need for additional research on how people estimate, understand, and form decisions around peer vaccination rates.

COVID-19 vaccination and all-cause and non-COVID-19 mortality. A revaluation of a study carried out in an Italian Province.

The COVID-19 vaccination prevents COVID-19 specific mortality. Well planned population-based studies, however, are necessary to evaluate the overall effectiveness of vaccination programmes. A study carried out in the province of Pescara is used to illustrate the potential biases that may affect such studies. The Pescara study analysed total and non-COVID-19 mortality and the occurrence of Potentially Vaccine-Related Serious Adverse Events (PVR-SAEs) in vaccinated and unvaccinated people, from January 2021, when vaccines became available, to July 2022. The study reported a lower probability of both total and non-COVID-19 death in vaccinated people. However, the authors did not include in the denominator of the unvaccinated cohort the population experience of the vaccinated cohort before vaccination (immortal time bias). Correcting the denominator of the unvaccinated cohort, the crude death rate of vaccinated and unvaccinated persons becomes the same. For the same reason, the unvaccinated non-COVID-19 mortality was overestimated, as was the mortality of people receiving only one or two vaccine doses. Confounding by indication and the healthy vaccinee bias will also be discussed, as well as the bias deriving by not considering the evolution of risk over time.

American Singles' Attitudes Toward Future Romantic/Sexual Partners' COVID-19 Vaccination Status: Evidence for both Vigilance and Indifference in a National Sample.

Around 142 million American adults are currently single; at least half of these singles want to pursue a romantic partner. Romantic dating can involve exposure to numerous people. Thus, dating can significantly impact pathogen exposure risk. In a demographically-representative cross-sectional survey conducted in 2021 (N = 5,000), we examined U.S. American singles' COVID-19 vaccination status, assessed their preferences around a potential partner's COVID-19 vaccination status, and identified demographic subgroups of singles particularly opposed to or indifferent to a partner being vaccinated against COVID-19. Our results showed 65% of participants were fully vaccinated, 10% were partially vaccinated, and 26% were unvaccinated against COVID-19. With regards to partner preferences, half wanted a vaccinated partner; 18.9% wanted a vaccinated partner but would make exceptions; 6.1% wanted an unvaccinated partner; and 25% reported that they did not care about their dating partner's vaccination status. Partner preferences were largely aligned with participants' own vaccination status, such that vaccinated participants preferred vaccinated partners. However, those preferring unvaccinated partners-or those willing to make exceptions for a partner-were most likely to identify as men, younger in age, a political affiliation outside of the two-party political system, a gender or sexual minority, or as a racial minority (i.e., Black/African-American or South Asian). Additionally, participants who were employed (vs. unemployed) were more likely to make exceptions for or prefer an unvaccinated partner. These results suggest that singles prefer homophily in COVID-19 vaccine status, and that minoritized subgroups of singles are more likely to maintain a social network including unvaccinated close others. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12119-023-10097-9.

Partial vaccination and associated factors among children aged 12-23 months in eastern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Vaccine prevents about 2-3 million deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases each year. However, immunization coverage in Ethiopia is lower than the herd immunity level required to prevent the spread of all vaccine-preventable diseases. Thus, this study aimed to assess the partial immunization and associated factors among 12-23-month-old children in Eastern Ethiopia. METHOD: A community-based cross-sectional study design was carried out among 874 randomly selected mothers/caregivers of children aged 12-23 months. A structured questionnaire was adapted and data were collected through face-to-face interviews and review of vaccination cards. Data were coded and analyzed using the Stata version 14 software. A binary logistic regression model was utilized to identify the determinant factors. The predictor of partial immunization was presented by an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval. A p-value of < 0.05 was used to establish statistical significance. RESULT: The prevalence of partial immunization was 31.4% (95% CI: 28-35). The dropout rate between the first and third pentavalent vaccine was 17%. Being female child [AOR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.52-0.95], 18-20 month child [AOR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.1- 2.4], the child born to mothers who heard about vaccination [AOR = 3.9, 95%CI: 1.92- 8.01], a child born to mother who did not receive immunization counselling [AOR = 1.65, 95%CI: 1.15-2.36], and child whose mother walk 15-30 min, 31-60 min, and > 60 min to reach nearby health facilities [AOR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.1-3.45], [AOR = 4.5, 95% CI: 2.47-8.15], and [AOR = 3.45, 95% CI: 1.59- 7.48] respectively were factors significantly associated with partial vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of partial immunization is high compared to other studies. As a result, to decrease the proportion of defaulters and to increase immunization coverage, maternal health care utilization like antenatal care follow-up and mother knowledge about the importance of the vaccine need to be sought cautiously.

Severe pertussis disease in a paediatric population: The role of age, vaccination status and prematurity.

AIM: To estimate hospitalisation rate and investigate the role of age, prematurity and vaccination status in severe pertussis cases. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 200 children aged 0-14 years, admitted to the emergency rooms of Meyer Hospital of Florence and Pisa Hospital with a diagnosis of pertussis from 1 October 2010 to 31 January 2020. RESULTS: Children younger than 12 months were 63.0%. Preterm infants were 6.5%. The rate of hospitalisation was 49.0%. Among hospitalised cases, 80.6% were younger than 5 months. Overall, 62.0% were unvaccinated; this percentage increased among hospitalised (73.5%) and preterm subsamples (76.9%). Delays in pertussis vaccination were found in 57.7% of term infants and in 80.0% of preterms. Multivariable analysis confirmed the age under 2 months as the variable at higher risk for hospitalisation (OR 4.49, 95% CI 1.85-10.96, p < 0.001). Being fully vaccinated represented a significant protective factor (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.04-0.35, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Older classes of age and a complete vaccination, in time with the recommended schedule, are both protective factors for hospitalisation in severe pertussis disease. The widespread vaccination delay frequently observed in preterm children may be the cause for their higher rate of hospitalisation.

Confirmed Delta Variant COVID-19 Infection at A Single Centre Tertiary Hospital: A Case Series.

SARS-CoV-2 continues to mutate with the emergence of new variants. Variant B.1.617.2 (Delta) is a variant of concern with evidence of increased transmission, more severe disease, decreased effectiveness of treatment or vaccines, or failure of diagnostic detection. In this article, we report on the clinical and biological picture of the first confirmed delta variant COVID-19 infection in Indonesia. From May 31 to June 17, we identified ten cases with confirmed delta variant COVID-19 infection admitted to a tertiary academic hospital in Jakarta. All subjects that have been vaccinated presented with mild-moderate disease. Most patients present with initial respiratory complaints, without radiological abnormalities on chest x-ray examination, and an increase in C-reactive protein. Seven out of ten patients have been vaccinated; the three patients who had not been vaccinated experienced severe COVID-19 symptoms, two of whom died. Due to the increased transmission of this variant, we recommend vaccination, wearing a mask, and social distancing to reduce the impact of infection with delta variant B.1,617.2.

[Prioritizing the vaccinated?] / Priorisierung von Geimpften?

Definition of the problem: The article asks whether vaccination status could become relevant if it is unavoidable to prioritize between patients in intensive care units during a pandemic. The aim is to analyze different approaches and arguments in favor of and against the inclusion of vaccination status. Arguments: The following arguments are assessed: First, it has been argued that it is unnecessary to open this discussion. Second, one could make the point that public debates about touchy subjects should be avoided. A third, frequently expressed opinion claims that physicians must never discriminate between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients, either because this is in conflict with human rights or because this is incompatible with the general principle that patients' prior conduct does not matter. Fourth, behavioral economists argue that intensive care medicine should take vaccination status into account with the goal to improve the overall numbers of vaccinations. A fifth line of thinking argues that it is more just to take vaccination into account. Conclusion: The author concludes that the omission to get a necessary and recommended vaccination may be taken into account if patients' prospects to survive are similar. She points out that lotteries would be worse.

Rubella in Poland in 2020.

INTRODUCTION: Since 2005, rubella has been included in the eradication program coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO). The elimination of rubella in the country is possible provided that it is achieved by min. 95% immunization status and monitoring of the epidemiological situation, including the recording all suspicions of rubella and conducting laboratory diagnostics in the WHO Reference Laboratory. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study is to assess the epidemiological situation of rubella in Poland in 2020, taking into account the assessment of rubella vaccination status and the degree of implementation of the WHO rubella elimination program in Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Assessment of the epidemiological situation of rubella in Poland based on aggregated reports of suspected rubella cases sent to the National Institute of Public Health NIH - National Research Institute by the Voivodeship Sanitary and Epidemiological Stations, data from the bulletin "Infectious diseases and poisoning in Poland in 2020" and data from the Epibaza system and the bulletin "Preventive vaccination in Poland in 2020". RESULTS: In 2020, 98 cases of rubella were registered, 187 cases less than in 2019 (285 cases). There was also a decrease in the incidence to 0.26 per 100,000, compared to 0.74 per 100,000 in 2019. The highest incidence, iregardless of gender and place of residence, was recorded in the 0-4 age group (2.98 per 100,000). In 2020, no cases of congenital rubella syndrome were reported. In 2020, only one case (1.02%) was classified as a case confirmed in a laboratory test. The remaining 98.98% (97 cases) were diagnosed on the basis of clinical symptoms. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS: In 2020, in Poland, a decrease in the number of rubella was observed. Rubella was registered in 99% on the basis of a general diagnosis, without the required laboratory confirmation, which means that other rash diseases can be registered as rubella.

Rubella in Poland in 2019.

INTRODUCTION: Rubella has been included in the elimination program coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 2005. Elimination of rubella in the country is possible provided that min. 95% of the vaccination status of the population and monitoring the epidemiological situation, including recording all suspected rubella and conducting laboratory diagnostics at the WHO Reference Laboratory. AIM: The aims of the present article are to analyze the epidemiological situation of rubella in Poland in 2019 and to discuss the rubella vaccination coverage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The assessment of the epidemiological situation of rubella in Poland was conducted on the basis of aggregated reports of suspected rubella cases sent to the National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene by Voivodeship Sanitary and Epidemiological Stations, and data from the bulletin "Infectious diseases and poisoning in Poland in 2019" and "Vaccinations in Poland in 2019 ". RESULTS: In 2019, there was a decrease in the number of rubella cases with registered 285 cases (in 2018 - 37 cases), and a decline in incidence (from 1.1 per 100,000 to 0.74). The highest incidence rate, regardless of gender and the environment, was observed among children agded 0-4 years (6.4 per 100,000). In 2019, no cases of congenital rubella syndrome were registered. In 2019, only 3 (1.05%) cases were classified as laboratoryconfirmed cases. The remaining 98.9% (282 cases) were diagnosed on the basis of clinical symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: In 2019, there was a decrease in the number of rubella cases. In Poland rubella in reported exclusively on the basis of the clinical picture. The proportion of laboratory tests confirming/excluding rubella infection is still very low in Poland.

[The epidemic process of whooping cough at contemporary stage in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan].

The causes of epidemic outbreaks of pertussis infection in the Kyrgyz Republic were studied in order to optimize immunological surveillance of this infection. The object of the study was the epidemic process of whooping cough, and the subject of the study was the incidence of pertussis infection in 2009-2018 and official data on the outbreak of pertussis in 2018. To diagnose pertussis the bacteriological method was applied. The bacteriological inoculation of the samples was carried out in the laboratory of the Republican Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital. The smear from posterior pharyngeal wall was collected from 2153 patients. The level of pertussis antibodies was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the RIDASCREEN Pertussis IgG test system (R-Biopharm, Germany) in various series. The study data testifies that despite the vaccine prevention and high inoculation coverage, the epidemic increases occurred in incidence of whooping cough in 2015 and 2018 with an intensive rate of 4.7 and 9.6 per hundred thousand of population, respectively. The evaluation of vaccination status of patients demonstrated that out of them 80.7% were non-immunized; the percentage of vaccinated patients made up to 13.1%. The analysis of the age structure testifies that the main group of the diseased consisted of children under one year of life (63.1%), the second group consisted of children aged 1-4 years (33.1%). The severe forms of infection were observed among children under one year of age (95.8%). According to the territorial distribution, the largest percentage of cases fall on Bishkek - 70% (426 cases) and Chuyskaya Oblast - 22.4% (137 cases). The sero-epidemiological study revealed high proportion of seronegative individuals in all studied groups, and the highest percentage was observed in the group of children 5-9 years old and adolescents of 15-19 years old - 62.8% and 62%, respectively.

Vaccination rates for Syrian population under temporary protection in Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to gather information on demographic and health indicators, primarily vaccination status, of Syrians under temporary protection in five provinces of Turkey and to develop infrastructure for vaccination planning. METHODS: The population under study consists of 89,986 Syrian children, 0-4 years of age, residing in Ankara, Mersin, Gaziantep, Izmir, and Bursa. Initially, we planned to evaluate 2,339 children, although a total of 2,827 children were evaluated by the end of the study. RESULTS: Of these children, 74% were born in Turkey, while 20% were born in Syria. In addition, 22.4% (n = 634) of the children were never vaccinated, and of these, 67.0% (n = 425) were born in Turkey. In other words, one in five Syrian children born in Turkey (20.3%) had never been vaccinated. Of the Syrian children under temporary protection, the missing vaccinations were as follows: hepatitis B (54.7%); Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (62.5%); five-component combined vaccine (64.6%); conjugated pneumococcal vaccine (58.0%); oral polio vaccine (70.8%); measles, mumps, and rubella (76.6%); varicella (66.8%); and hepatitis A vaccine (76.0%). CONCLUSION: It is important to increase the immunization rates of Syrian children under temporary protection and establish regular vaccination procedures.

Stunting and associated factors in children of less than five years: A hospital-based study.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate frequency of stunting and associated factors in children aged less than five years in a tertiary care hospital of Lahore. METHODS: An Analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in Pediatrics Outpatient Department at Akhtar Saeed Trust Teaching Hospital, Lahore from December 2017 to July 2018. Two hundred children of ages under five years coming to outdoor for treatment of minor ailments were included after informed consent from their parents. Non-probability, convenient sampling technique was used to collect sample. Data collected and analyzed on SPSS version 19. To find out association of stunting with multiple qualitative variables, chi-square test was applied and p-value was fixed at ≤ 0.05 to be significant. RESULTS: Out of 200 children screened in OPD, 42 (21.0%) were found to be stunted. The total percentage of stunting in male children was 28 (66.6%) and in female children were 14 (33.3%). Stunting was significantly associate with male gender (p=0.047), joint family system (p=0.049), low literacy level in mothers (p=0.031), unvaccinated status (p=0.003) and history of bottle feeding (p=0.037). CONCLUSION: The frequency of stunting in children less than five years of age is 42 (21.0%). The significant risk factors associated with stunting were found as male gender (p= 0.047), joint family system (p=0.049), low maternal education (p=0.031), unvaccinated status(p=0.03).

Factors associated with the uptake of newly introduced childhood vaccinations in Ethiopia: the cases of rotavirus and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.

BACKGROUND: Childhood immunization programmes have made substantial contributions to lowering the burden of disease among children in developing countries, however a large proportion of children still remain unimmunized. This study aimed to explore the determinants of rotavirus vaccine (RVV) and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) uptake in Ethiopia. METHODS: The 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey dataset was used in this analysis. A total of 2004 children aged 12-23 months were included in the analysis. A multivariable logistic regression model was employed to identify the determinants of uptake of the complete schedules of RVV (two doses) and PCV (three doses). Crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. RESULTS: The uptakes of the complete schedules of RVV and PCV among children aged 12-23 months were 56 and 49.1%, respectively. The likelihood of immunization with the complete schedule of RVV was significantly lower among children from the relatively poor Afar region in Ethiopia (AOR 0.16; 95%-CI 0.04-0.61). Similarly, children living in not only the Afar region (AOR 0.10; 95%-CI 0.03-0.38), but also the Gambela region (AOR 0.25; 95%-CI 0.08-0.83), were less likely to be vaccinated with PCV. On the other hand, children from more wealthy households had higher odds of vaccination with RVV (AOR 1.69; 95%-CI 1.04-2.75). Also attending antenatal care (ANC) was found to be significantly associated with uptake of the complete schedule of RVV and PCV. CONCLUSIONS: The uptake of RVV and PCV is suboptimal in Ethiopia. The uptake of the vaccines were found to be associated with region, ANC use and wealth status.