vaccination

Dysfunction of salivary glands in patients with a history of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection are a prevalent clinical finding. However, the impact of these salivary disorders on the clinical experience of xerostomia has been less frequently investigated. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of xerostomia in patients recovered from COVID-19.

In this retrospective cross-sectional study, data were collected through interviews with 350 patients referred to the Department of Dentistry at Urmia from March to August 2023 who had a history of COVID-19 infection. Demographic information, previous systemic diseases, medication history, and history of COVID-19 infection were provided by patients through a checklist of preliminary descriptive information. The Persian version of the Fox et al questionnaire was used to assess xerostomia, and the Thomson et al questionnaire was used to assess the severity of xerostomia. The total scores were used to evaluate the severity of xerostomia. The final data were entered into SPSS version 29 for analysis.

Participants were 211 males and 139 females with a mean age of 32.19±12.14 years. The mean xerostomia score in patients based on the Thomson Index was 21.7±7.50 out of 44. No significant difference in xerostomia severity was observed between males and females (P=0.278), but with increasing age, the likelihood of xerostomia occurrence increased (P=0.009). The severity of xerostomia was significantly higher in recipients of the Sinopharm vaccine compared to recipients of the AstraZeneca vaccine (P=0.028). Still, no difference was observed between the frequency of vaccinations and the severity of xerostomia (P=0.757).

Based on the results of this study, age and type of vaccine can have an impact on the severity of xerostomia after contracting COVID-19 infection. Therefore, the type of received vaccine and the age of the patient during vaccination and assessments of patients should be considered.

Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody with binding specificity to CD20-positive B lymphocytes. Patients administered rituximab would not have adequate humoral response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Rituximab can also affect the durability of immunization. Plasma-secreting antibodies and memory B-cells are two major arms of long-term immunity. The role of memory B-cells becomes prominent by decreasing antibody titers over time. The activated memory B cells have CD20 protein on their surface. Investigating the effect of rituximab on other vaccines has demonstrated attenuated recall response. The evidence in this review suggests that we can also expect a deficit of recall response to SARS-CoV-2, making the rituximab-treated patients susceptible to reinfection with emerging variants. Therefore, it is better to consider other therapeutic options, use lower rituximab doses, and employ booster vaccines at shorter intervals.

The COVID-19 pandemic was mitigated by the rapid development and deployment of vaccines. While vaccines reduce infection severity, breakthrough infections (BTIs) still occur. The CDC defines BTI as a positive SARS-CoV-2 test ≥14 days post-vaccination. This study investigates the occurrence of COVID-19 BTIs at a tertiary care hospital in Puducherry, South India.

This retrospective study analysed hospital tested qRT-PCR data of individuals from the ICMR portal (March 2021–March 2022). Demographic and vaccination details were extracted.

Among 8001 tested individuals, 1452 were vaccinated. The BTI rate decreased from 16.6% to 1.2% after the first dose and from 58% to 40% after the second one. Odds ratio indicated a 74% reduction in infection risk for vaccinated individuals compared to unvaccinated. Males had higher infection rates than females, regardless of vaccination status.

Our study demonstrates a higher BTI rate after one vaccine dose compared to two doses. The BTI rate also increased four months post-vaccination, even with two doses, potentially due to waning immunity and the emergence of new variants. Therefore, continued adherence to preventive measures in conjunction with vaccination is crucial for minimizing COVID-19 transmission.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine is the most effective measure against HPVinfection. Therefore, the study aimed at assessing knowledge and uptake of HPV vaccine amongfemale undergraduates in North-Central, Nigeria. A cross-sectional research design was conducted from March-April 2023 among femaleundergraduate students and a convenience sampling technique was used to select 380 respondentsfor the study. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data analysis was doneusing SPSS version 26. Chi-square test was used to test the association between sociodemographicvariables, knowledge, and uptake of HPV vaccine. Prediction of uptake of HPV vaccine according tosociodemographic variables and knowledge was done using binary logistic regression test. P-value lessthan 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Most of the respondents were between 20 and 25 years and were sexually inactive. Theresults shows that most of the respondents (68.2%) had low knowledge, and only 15% had received theHPV vaccine; of them, 7.6% had completed the doses of the HPV vaccine. Age 20-25 years (β=0.865,P=0.003), 3rd year (β=0.520, P<0.001) and 4th year (β=0.005, P<0.001) of study, sexual activity (β=0.545,P<0.001), multiple sexual partners as 3-4 partners (β=2.454, P<0.001) and 5-6 partners (β=0.576,P<0.001), prior STIs history (β=0.545, P=0.035), and low knowledge level (β=0.362, P<0.001) werepredictors of HPV vaccine uptake. Understanding predictor factors of HPV vaccination uptake can help to design betterpublic health interventions to improve HPV vaccine coverage among female undergraduate studentsin Nigeria.

Mass vaccination against COVID-19 infection has been able to substantially alleviate the consequent mortalities and the spread of the disease. The paced design and administration of novel mRNA-based vaccines paved the way for the production against cancers and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Various side effects, lethal in some instances, are described for COVID-19 vaccines, including the instigation of incidence or relapse of autoimmune disorders, including autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Molecular mimicry with the spike protein S1 and cross-reactions, adjuvants-induced autoimmune/autoinflammatory syndrome, epitope spreading, and bystander activation are among the molecular mechanisms that are hypothesized to mediate vaccine-induced autoimmunity. Pathological and serologic evaluations of patients with liver injury following COVID-19 vaccination have displayed that most cases can be categorized as probable or definite for the diagnosis of AIH. AIH and AIH-like liver injuries following COVID-19 vaccination are generally manageable with the administration of corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive therapies if required. Data on the safety of subsequent vaccination is scarce; however, vaccination during maintenance therapy with steroids seems safe. More importantly, the recognition of asymptomatic cases with altered liver aminotransferase levels necessitates the design of prospective cohorts to assess the long-term consequences of sub-clinical liver dysfunction induced by COVID-19 vaccines.

There are few reports related to the possible side effects of injected vaccines, and evaluating the frequency and severity of the complications of COVID-19 vaccines can increase the knowledge, safety and importance of vaccines and reduce mistrust towards them. Therefore, we assessed the frequency and severity of the complications of COVID-19 vaccines in the medical staff of Khatam Al-Anbia and Ali Ibn Abi Talib hospitals in Zahedan.

In this cross-sectional study, 200 medical staff working in two hospitals, Khatam Al Anbia and Ali Bin Abitalib Zahedan were studied. The frequency of side effects after COVID-19 vaccination was recorded in the questionnaire.

The distribution of the frequency of the type of vaccine received in the studied treatment group is equal to 83 people (41.5%) AstraZeneca vaccine, 82 people (41%) Sinopharm vaccine, 22 people (11%) Sputnik vaccine and 13 people (6.5 %) had received Barekat vaccine. The frequency distribution of side effects in the first dose and the second dose after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine was equal to 135 people (67.5%) and 96 people (48%), respectively. Distribution of the percentage of the type of side effect that occurred after receiving the first dose of COVID-19, according to fever (80.7%), headache (46.7%), weakness (40%), disorder Sleep (33.3%), myalgia (n19.2%), sweating (10.3%), dizziness (9.6%), tachycardia (18.8%), sore throat (6.7%), chest pain (5.2%), arthralgia (5.2%), rhinorrhea (3.7%), diarrhea (2.9%) and loss of appetite (2.9%).

It can be stated that the COVID-19 vaccine did not show severe side effects and with timely management and supportive treatment and control of side effects, patients were encouraged to get vaccinated and as a result, the collective immunity level of the society improved.

The effect of COVID-19 vaccination coverage on the role of social capital as an essential dimension in disease prevention is undeniable. This study investigated the correlation between Covid-19 vaccination coverage and social capital. This ecological study used aggregate data from 130 countries. A fully vaccinated index was used to cover the COVID-19 vaccination. The main variable was the cumulative fully COVID-19 vaccinated population share data, which was retrieved from Our World in Data repository. The data related to social capital was retrieved from the global sustainable competitiveness databases. Cumulative fully vaccinated population shares related to COVID-19 were 46.83%. The higher rate of cumulative fully vaccinated population shares related to Covid-19 was reported in the United Arab Emirates (90.28%), Portugal (88.98%), and Singapore (87.00%), and also the lower rate of cumulative fully vaccinated population shares related to Covid-19 were reported from Burundi (0.02), Chad (0.48), and Haiti (0.61). There was a positive significant association between cumulative fully vaccinated population shares and social capital (r=0.74, p<0.001). A positive significant association between cumulative fully vaccinated population shares and social capital was found in 39 high-income countries (r=0.33, p=0.03), 36 upper-middle-income countries (r=035, p=0.04), and 36 lower-middle-income countries (r=0.51, p=0.002). A strong positive association between cumulative fully vaccinated population shares and social capital in the countries was observed. Appropriate interventions are needed to increase the level of social capital and its components in countries to increase access to vaccination and health status in countries in the conditions of a pandemic.

Attitudes about COVID-19 relate to cognitions, feelings, and behaviors regarding the pandemic and vaccination, as well as other factors, such as demographic characteristics, and health-related information. This research uses the Causal Attitude Network (CAN) model to measure attitudes and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among 1385 Indonesian people from 15 cities.

Data was obtained from instruments that made in the Netherlands and adapted to Indonesian language and culture. This research integrates psychometrics with network analysis which is an advanced implementation of the field of Statistics to reveal the interaction between psychological factors that shape people's attitudes towards COVID-19 and vaccination in Indonesia. Data analysis used JASP, an open source statistical analysis software.

From this research, it was found that attitude elements regarding trust in vaccine development and awareness of the importance of vaccines in Indonesian society have a high influence on other attitude elements. Attitude elements regarding the habit of wearing masks and awareness about the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine are the attitude elements that have the highest impact on changing other attitude elements,

Two attitude elements, namely trust and awareness, are the attitude elements that most influence other attitude elements. Trust in the development of the COVID-19 vaccine is related to trust in the experts in developing the COVID-19 vaccine. In other words, increasing public confidence in the development of a science-appropriate COVID-19 vaccine will be in line with increasing public trust in COVID-19 vaccine developers, and vice versa.

The dedication of healthcare teams to adhering to protocols for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), maintaining vaccination coverage among healthcare workers (HCWs), and ensuring environmental health are crucial elements in managing hospital-acquired infections.

This study aimed to evaluate adherence to PPE use, vaccination history, hand hygiene protocols, and environmental health practices in a tertiary children's hospital in Iran.

This cross-sectional study evaluated compliance with PPE use, vaccination history among doctors, nurses, and hospital staff, adherence to strict hygiene practices, patient isolation protocols, and environmental health measures based on an Iranian Health Ministry query. Data collection was conducted over three months, from May to August 2023.

During the study, 285 staff members were assessed for compliance with hand hygiene protocols. Nurses demonstrated the highest level of compliance, reaching 51%. The highest compliance with hand hygiene protocols at the five designated moments was approximately 79%, with the transplantation and hemodialysis wards achieving the highest rates. Nurses also showed the most positive vaccination records. Personal protective equipment was used correctly in various wards, with an overall compliance rate of 79%.

This study revealed that compliance with health protocols in different parts of the hospital was suboptimal and required significant improvement.

 The Ministry of Health and Treatment implemented vaccination as one of the primary strategies to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Given their critical role in treatment and disease control, healthcare workers were prioritized for vaccination. This study aims to assess the vaccination status and level of immunity against COVID-19 among healthcare workers at Shahid Motahari Hospital in Urmia, Iran, in 2021.

 A cross-sectional study was conducted with 150 volunteer healthcare workers at Shahid Motahari Hospital. Venous blood samples were collected to measure severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) neutralizing antibodies using the ELISA method. Data analysis was performed using version 16 of SPSS software.

The participants had a mean age of 37.5 years, with 47.3% being male. A significant 98% of the participants were vaccinated against COVID-19. The predominant vaccines administered were Sputnik V (72%), AstraZeneca (54%), and Sinopharm (27%). The mean level of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies was significantly higher in vaccinated individuals compared to unvaccinated individuals (p = 0.001). There was no significant difference in antibody levels between male and female participants (p = 0.67). A positive correlation was observed between the number of vaccine doses received and the level of neutralizing antibodies (R = 0.207).

Vaccination with the mentioned vaccines, whether administered singly or in combination, effectively increased serum antibody levels, providing sufficient protection against COVID-19 for healthcare workers. To maintain immunity levels among healthcare workers and protect against emerging strains of the virus, it is essential to administer booster doses.

The saying that health is wealth is an incontrovertible fact. This aphorism underscores the paramount significance attached to human health since the preliterate era. Igala land and other parts of Northern Nigeria, particularly during the colonial epoch, witnessed many epidemics. The sudden outbreak of epidemic diseases, which spread like wildfire across Nigeria in the early 1920s, threatened the lives of both Europeans and natives and adversely affected the economy and social lives of the people. Thus, vaccination was conceived as a viable control measure and made compulsory in Igala land. However, its success was limited. Therefore, this study examines the prevalence of epidemic diseases and vaccination in twentieth-century Igala land. This paper reveals that the acute shortage of medical and health personnel, Islamic influence, the difficult geographical terrain of the area, coupled with high rates of illiteracy, and the prevalence of traditional medicines militated against the effective and efficient control of epidemic diseases and vaccinations in Igala land. The functionalist theory is utilized while a multidisciplinary approach to historical analysis is adopted. Data for this study were obtained from the Nigerian National Archive, Kaduna, and oral interviews with residents of Igala land and literature.

Respiratory infections, a global health priority according to the World Health Organization, cause around 7.5 million deaths annually, constituting 14% of global mortality. Beyond severe health implications, these diseases exacerbate social disparities and impose a substantial economic burden. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease  (COPD) combines chronic bronchitis  (airway inflammation) and emphysema (air sac destruction) caused by prolonged exposure to irritants, and poor lifestyle choices lead to airway blockage and breathing difficulties. Lifestyle choices significantly influence health trajectories, evidenced by a consistent increase in “positive comfort” over time. A Chinese study highlights the correlation between adopting a healthy lifestyle and increased life expectancy. European health initiatives address these challenges, emphasizing early detection through large‑scale health camps to identify new cases and assess severity. Exacerbation and infections are primary triggers, with bacteria and viruses requiring antibiotic interventions. Awareness campaigns targeting causes, symptoms, and prevention, including childhood infection initiatives with influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations, are crucial. Motivating smoking cessation and encouraging whole grain, fruit, and vegetable consumption mitigate lung oxidative damage. Promoting physical activity and addressing environmental pollution contribute to overall lung health. Timely nutritional evaluations for newly diagnosed cases manage obesity and malnutrition and prevent further lung function deterioration. There is growing attention toward the influence of poor lifestyle choices like sedentary lifestyle, environmental exposure, and unhealthy dietary patterns on the increased risk of COPD development besides smoking. This essay explores these factors, recognizing the intricate interplay between lifestyle and COPD prevention and management.

Individuals with Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease (AIRD) are vulnerability to severe SARS-CoV-2 outcomes and vaccination. The present study aimed to determine the incidence of AIRDs flares following COVID-19 vaccination and its risk factors.  The study was retrospective cross-sectional focused on patients with AIRD who experienced a flare-up at least during 30 days after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. These patients were seen at Rheumatology Clinics at Imam Reza and Ghaem Hospitals, affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, as well as private clinics in Mashhad, Iran, over a period of 1 years. The rate of recurrence following COVID-19 vaccination was estimated to be 3.16%. Rheumatoid arthritis (18.9%), systemic lupus erythematosus (12.9%), and cutaneous vasculitis (10.6%) were the most frequent AIRDs among patients who experienced a flare-up following COVID-19 vaccination. More than 85% of patients who were vaccinated with AstraZeneca experienced a flare-up after the first dose of vaccination. In the majority of patients, the flare-up occurred after the first dosage of COVID-19 vaccination. In Mashhad, Iran, the incidence of flare-ups in autoimmune and inflammatory rheumatic diseases following COVID-19 vaccination is estimated to be a mere 3%. Despite their rarity, flare-ups in autoimmune and inflammatory rheumatic diseases post-COVID-19 vaccination can still pose a public health issue, potentially undermining public confidence in vaccinations.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become one of the deadliest pandemics in recent history. Despite the introduction of preventive measures such as physical distancing, wearing masks, remote work, isolation, and quarantine to slow the spread, these behavioral measures have had undesirable consequences, including negative psychological effects, deep depression, and other mental health issues. The development of a safe and effective vaccine emerged as the most promising strategy for combating COVID-19. Today, vaccination remains one of the most effective tools to fight against COVID-19.

The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical and laboratory differences between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients hospitalized for pneumonia caused by COVID-19.

The study included patients admitted to the clinic with COVID-19 between January 2021 and October 2021. Demographics, clinical features, and treatment outcomes were recorded. Additionally, the vaccination status of patients against COVID-19 was documented. The cases were divided into two groups: Those who had received the COVID-19 vaccine and those who had not. Complete vaccination was defined as receiving two doses (0.5 mL) intramuscularly with the last dose administered at least 14 days prior or receiving two doses (0.3 mL) intramuscularly with the last dose administered at least 21 days prior, and no more than 6 months after the last dose. The vaccines included in the study were Pfizer, QazVac, Sinopharm/Beijing, Sinovac, and Sputnik V.

In total, 510 cases were included in the study, divided into two groups based on vaccination status: 367 unvaccinated cases and 143 vaccinated cases. The unvaccinated group had a longer duration of hospitalization than the vaccinated group (9 days vs. 7 days, respectively) (P < 0.001). Although no differences were found between the two groups regarding the nature of the radiological lesions, the number of affected areas was significantly greater in the unvaccinated group (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the number of complications between the two groups (97.9% in the vaccinated group, n = 140/143; 99.2% in the unvaccinated group, n = 364/367). In terms of mortality, 9.8% (14/143) of the vaccinated group died, compared to 21.3% (78/367) in the unvaccinated group, with a statistically significant difference (P = 0.002).When assessing the SPO 2 index at admission, statistically significant differences were observed (P < 0.001). Biochemical parameters such as urea, albumin, glucose, and creatinine were significantly higher in unvaccinated patients (urea: 4.2 ± 19.3; creatinine: 9.8 ± 18.5). Serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PRK) were significantly higher in the vaccinated cases. Interleukin-6 (P < 0.001), troponin (P < 0.001), ferritin (P = 0.002), and D-dimer (P < 0.001) were significantly elevated in the unvaccinated group.

Vaccinated patients infected with COVID-19 had shorter hospital stays and less severe radiological lesions. The levels of severe COVID-19 predictors such as CRP, IL-6, D-dimer, and ferritin were statistically significant in the unvaccinated group. The mortality rate was higher in the unvaccinated group compared to the vaccinated group. Vaccination appears to be highly effective in mitigating the effects of COVID-19 in patients with chronic comorbidities and significantly reduces mortality in these patients.

The COVID-19 pandemic, with its high mortality rate, has underscored the urgent need for the rapid production of vaccines. This has prompted research into the effects of vaccines on specific populations, including patients with immune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS).

This study aimed to examine the impacts of COVID vaccination on individuals with MS.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving 302 patients with relapsing-remitting MS who had received the coronavirus vaccine. These patients were referred to the MS clinic of two referral hospitals affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The data collection instrument used was a checklist that included demographic information and disease-related details, such as the duration of the disease, underlying conditions, type and timing of vaccine administration, and the occurrence of attacks before and after the vaccination rounds.

During the first and second rounds of vaccination, the majority of patients (90.7% and 87.1%, respectively) received the Sinopharm vaccine. In the third round, approximately one-third (32.8%) did not receive the vaccine, and in the fourth round, the majority of individuals (85.8%) also did not receive it. However, most vaccinated individuals had received the Sinopharm vaccine. Among the sample, 34 individuals (11.3%) were newly diagnosed with MS after receiving the vaccine. Additionally, 41.7% of individuals experienced an attack within three months after receiving one of the vaccine doses.

Vaccinations during the COVID era have significantly contributed to saving lives and preventing death. However, they have also had consequences that need careful examination and consideration in future vaccine production and epidemic management. The results obtained from this study can be associated with the vaccine, but given the retrospective nature of the study, further research on the long-term effects of the vaccine is needed to generalize the findings.