Medscape’s Post

I am beyond blessed to have published my first Article with Vaccines MDPI! I could not have done it without the help of my fantastic mentor, Denny Fe Agana-Norman, PhD, MPH, CPH, the excellent Leadership of Abbey B. Berenson MD MMS PhD, and my colleague Manjushree Shanmugasundaram at UTMB. Enjoy! Understanding Barriers to Human Papillomavirus Vaccination among Parents of 9–10-Year-Old Adolescents: A Qualitative Analysis. Vaccines 2024, 12(3), 245;

Nadja Vielot, PhD's analysis of the Prevent COVID-U trial in 2021 reveals key insights into COVID-19 vaccine uptake among young adults, in an article published in the journal Vaccine. The study found that 79% of participants in the "standard-of-care" group, which gave participants the option to seek vaccination at any time in the future, ended up getting vaccinated, compared to just 16% who declined vaccination initially. Preventive behaviors like mask-wearing and avoiding large gatherings were linked to higher vaccination rates. Other strong predictors of vaccination included attending in-person classes, having COVID-19 relevant medical conditions, and practicing preventive behaviors. Vielot states, "Individuals who initially decline COVID-19 vaccination can be convinced to vaccinate, particularly if they are already practicing other forms of COVID-19 prevention. Continued outreach and education from the scientific community can combat low vaccine confidence." Read more at: https://lnkd.in/dmc-fkfV

As we conclude #WorldImmunizationWeek, we highlight how two of our investments are using #data to drive impact in #vaccines. CCTs for Immunisation approached the issue of immunisation in #Pakistan using an innovative behavioural science approach, whilst Simprints provides identification to people who have no formal identity in order to improve access to vaccines and decrease wastage in immunisation. CCTs for Immunisation and Simprints both demonstrate that if we are to reach universal vaccination and reduce preventable deaths and illness, #evidence and data-led thinking are the way to go. #innovatingtogether #innovation #globaldevelopment #internationaldevelopment https://lnkd.in/esptVuuk

Stopping the spread of medical misinformation and disinformation online is an enormous task and requires an all hands-on-deck approach. More innovation, training and tools are needed to protect the health and well-being of consumers to help them separate fact from fiction. Misinformation is putting the health of our communities—and our nation­—at risk. As Jesse Ehrenfeld MD MPH, president of the American Medical Association writes in this call-to-action: "We must work together to create a common understanding of medical science and shared facts that empowers patients to make informed decisions about their own health and the health of those they love." #AMA #misinformation #disinformation #vaccines #immunization

The concern that "too many vaccines overload the immune system" is a common misconception. Scientific evidence does not support this claim because: The human immune system can respond to millions of antigens simultaneously and Vaccines contain only a tiny fraction of what the immune system handles daily Modern vaccines contain fewer antigens than older versions that is the total number of antigens from all childhood vaccines is far less than what a child encounters in their environment daily Multiple studies have shown no link between multiple vaccines and immune system overload. There are Combination vaccines, and these are safe and effective, reducing the number of injections needed and they do not overburden the immune system Benefits of multiple vaccines protect against several diseases simultaneously, reduce clinic visits and discomfort from multiple injections Major health organizations worldwide affirm that current vaccine schedules are safe, The CDC, WHO, and numerous pediatric associations support current vaccination practices and vaccine schedules are designed to be safe for the vast majority of children but healthcare providers can adjust schedules if necessary for individual cases. #VaccinationEducation #VaccinationForAll #MediaEISFellowship #30DayChallenge #VaccinesWork #iAmPDAVE #CsitNigeria #CatalystMedia World Health Organization UNICEF

New Needle-Free Intranasal COVID-19 Vaccine Offers Long-Lasting Immunity Griffith University has developed a ground breaking intranasal COVID-19 vaccine, CDO-7N-1, which offers a needle-free, single-dose option, providing long-lasting immunity and broad protection against all major variants. The live-attenuated vaccine, which induces both mucosal and systemic immunity, shows strong memory responses in the nasal mucosa, offering protection for up to a year. Stable at four °C for seven months, it suits low- and middle-income countries. Licensed to Indian Immunologicals Ltd, the vaccine is now poised for clinical trials, marking a significant advancement in accessible COVID-19 vaccination. #COVID19 #VaccineInnovation #IntranasalVaccine #NeedleFree #GlobalHealth #LongLastingImmunity #GriffithUniversity #MedicalBreakthrough #HealthTech #ClinicalTrials #WissenResearch

YSPH faculty continue to lead critical conversations around vaccines and public health policy. Here's a roundup of recent mentions in the news: Former President Donald Trump has promised that, if re-elected, he would cut federal funding for any schools with a vaccine or mask mandate. His promises highlight the continued politicization of CDC-recommended public health best practices. Prof. Gregg Gonsalves joins a discussion on anti-vaccine rhetoric during the current election. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eWGgYKdh U.S. parents still overwhelmingly support childhood vaccinations. But kindergarten exemptions rose to a median of 3% nationally during the 2022-2023 school year, up from 2.7% the year before. Dean Megan Ranney weighs in on the growing trend of vaccine hesitancy as the new school year begins. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/g-Kirm3H Newly updated vaccines against COVID-19 are now approved and available, just as the U.S. is experiencing a surge of infections. When is the best time to get yours? YSPH Dean Megan Ranney offers advice with CNN, TODAY, and WBUR. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eiJZchuB & https://lnkd.in/edt4Nvbs & https://lnkd.in/eXSWFy3Q

In March 2021, California implemented a vaccine policy that “distributed 40 percent of available COVID-19 vaccines to the least advantaged one-quarter of communities in California.” Community need was measured by a California-specific, area-based socioeconomic measure. In the May issue of Health Affairs, Christopher Hoover of the California Department of Public Health and coauthors explore findings from California’s COVID-19 vaccine equity policy. The researchers estimate that in the least -advantaged communities, the policy resulted in a 28.4 percent increase in vaccination rates. Also, more than 160,000 cases, 10,000 hospitalizations, and 670 deaths were averted because of the policy. Despite these findings, Hoover and coauthors note that “the share of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in prioritized communities remained elevated.” Read the full article: https://bit.ly/3K3grIj For more on the paper’s findings, listen to an upcoming episode of A Health Podyssey featuring lead author Christopher Hoover and Health Affairs Editor-in-Chief Alan Weil.

Check out our article evaluating California’s vaccine equity policy to mitigate COVID-19 disparities and look out for A Health Podyssey podcast episode with yours truly early next week!

The incidence of heart attacks and strokes was lower after COVID-19 vaccination than before or without vaccination, according to a new study involving nearly the whole adult population of England. The study, published today in Nature Communications, showed that the incidence of arterial thromboses, such as heart attacks and strokes, was up to 10% lower in the 13 to 24 weeks after the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Following a second dose, the incidence was up to 27% lower after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine and up to 20% lower after the Pfizer/Biotech vaccine. Research led by the Universities of Cambridge, Bristol and Edinburgh and enabled by the British Heart Foundation Data Centre at Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) analysed de-identified health records from 46 million adults in England between 8 December 2020 and 23 January 2022. Dr Samantha Ip from the Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, said: “This research further supports the large body of evidence on the safety of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, which has been shown to provide protection against severe COVID-19 and saved millions of lives worldwide.” #CambridgeResearch #Covid19 #Medicine https://lnkd.in/ez93DsR3