Sexual orientation was associated with intention to be vaccinated with a smallpox vaccine against mpox: A cross-sectional preliminary survey in Japan.

This survey aimed to assess the prevalence of intention to receive smallpox vaccine against mpox and its relationship with sexual orientation in Japan. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in September-October 2022, with 12,900 assigned males and 13,413 assigned females participating. Modified Poisson regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship between vaccine willingness and sexual orientation, adjusting for socioeconomics, trust in government, COVID-19 vaccination status, and frequency of brothel visits. Vaccine willingness was higher in homosexual respondents than heterosexual counterparts, with proportions of 23.1 % among assigned males and 13.4 % among assigned females. Homosexual orientation was significantly associated with vaccine willingness, with prevalence ratios of 1.37 (95 % CI: 1.23-1.54) among assigned males and 1.34 (95 % CI: 1.13-1.59) among assigned females. These findings highlight the need for targeted vaccine promotion campaigns and ongoing monitoring of attitudes towards mpox and vaccine compliance in high-risk groups.

Is the Testing System No Longer Effective for Coronavirus Disease 2019? Elucidating the Policy Change in the United Kingdom.

Various studies have reported the vaccine's efficacy against coronavirus disease 2019; however, there has been little discussion regarding the test frequency since the emergence of the Omicron strain. In this context, the United Kingdom has abolished its free testing program. Our analysis revealed that the decrease in case fatality rate was heavily influenced by vaccination coverage rather than the testing frequency. However, the effectiveness of testing frequency should not be underestimated and therefore needs further validation.

The influence of information sources on intention changes to receive COVID-19 vaccination: A prospective cohort study in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Before the COVID-19 vaccine became available, many Japanese people were undecided about whether or not to receive them. Their decisions were keys to achieving herd immunity. The impact of the type of information source on the COVID-19 vaccine uptake decision-making process remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between information source usage on COVID-19 and subsequent vaccine uptake status among those who have yet to decide whether to receive vaccines from non-prioritized people for vaccination. METHODS: Prospective cohort online self-administered surveys were conducted in February 2021 (T1), before the start of the mass vaccination program, and September-October 2021 (T2), when the vaccines were available to all citizens. The survey's target population was registered monitors of an Internet research company. Participants who answered "I want to get vaccinated after waiting to see how it goes." at T1 were eligible for analysis. The outcome variable was the COVID-19 vaccine uptake status in T2, and the predictors were 20 types of information sources, categorized based on people (family members, etc.), institutions (governments, etc.), or media (TV news, etc.). Adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using logistic regression adjusted for possible confounders. RESULTS: The 5,139 respondents, mean age and standard deviation was 42.8 ± 12.5, 55.7% female, were eligible for analysis. 85.7% completed vaccination (including reserved/intended people) in T2. In the multivariate logistic analysis, odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for vaccine uptake were 1.49 (1.18-1.89) for workplaces/schools, 1.81 (1.33-2.47) for LINE, 0.69 (0.55-0.86) for Internet news and 0.62 (0.48-0.82) for video sharing sites. CONCLUSIONS: The type of information source usage played an important role in the decision to vaccinate against COVID-19. Although caution is needed in interpreting the results, obtaining information from workplaces/schools and LINE was influential in promoting immunization.

Why only me? A case report of a breast cancer patient with unresolved trauma from a past disaster experience developing a mental disorder.

Little is known about how the psychological stress of having experienced a natural disaster affects cancer patients. We experienced a patient who was treated with breast cancer after having been stricken by a typhoon, which resulted in significant psychological damage. Treatment strategies should incorporate patients' mental health appropriately after disasters.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome After COVID-19 Vaccination: A Secondary Analysis of Domestic Safety Data by the Japanese Government.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to figure out the risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination, which has been reported as a rare adverse reaction. Methods Elucidating the characteristics, we performed a secondary analysis of the cases from February 2020 through January 2022, based on the publicly available spontaneous adverse reaction reports in Japan. Results We identified 115 cases, and all were after messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccination. Of all the cases, 69 (60.0%) were female and 44 (38.2%) were older than 65 years old. Severe GBS was reported by 38 males (median age 61.5 years) and 51 females (median age 55 years). The median interval from vaccination to the onset of symptoms was eight days for males and four days for females. Sequelae were reported in 18 patients (7 males, median age 81 years; 11 females, median age 51 years), 11 of whom were older than 65 years old. The estimated incidence was about 0.0001% (0.000058% for the Pfizer vaccine and about 0.000046% for the Moderna vaccine, respectively). Conclusions Spontaneous reports would have various biases, the incidence of GBS after mRNA vaccination was as low as in other existing vaccination programs, and it is important not to interpret that risk expansively.

Association between COVID-19 incidence and postponement or cancellation of elective surgeries in Japan until September 2020: a cross-sectional, web-based survey.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine whether and how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the postponement or cancellation of elective surgeries in Japan. DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional, web-based, self-administered survey was conducted nationwide from August 25 to September 30 2020. We used data from the Japan 'COVID-19 and Society' Internet Survey collected by a large internet research agency, Rakuten Insight, which had approximately 2.2 million qualified panellists in 2019. PARTICIPANTS: From a volunteer sample of 28 000 participants, we extracted data from 3678 participants with planned elective surgeries on any postponement or cancellation of elective surgeries. OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measure was any postponement or cancelltion of elective surgeries. In addition, for all respondents, we extracted data on sociodemographic, health-related characteristics, psychological characteristics and prefectural-level residential areas. We used weighted logistic regression approaches to fulfil the study objectives, minimising potential bias relating to web-based surveys. RESULTS: Of the 3678 participants, 431 (11.72%) reported experiencing postponement or cancellation of their elective surgeries. Notably, the participants living in prefectures where the declaration of the state of emergency was made on 7 April 2020 were significantly more likely to experience postponement or cancellation of elective surgeries than those residing in prefectures with the state of emergency beginning on 16 April 2020 (174 (26.02%) vs 153 (12.15%)). CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of patients whose elective surgery had been postponed was limited during Japan's first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, although the declaration of a state of emergency increased the likelihood of postponement. It is imperative to increase awareness of the secondary health effects related to policy intervention in pandemics and other health crises and to use appropriate countermeasures such as standard infectious control measures and triage of surgical patients.

Interruption of breast cancer care and importance of inter‐hospital cooperation during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A case report of advanced breast cancer in Fukushima, Japan

We experienced the case of a patient with advanced breast cancer who failed to receive comprehensive care despite regular video conferencing with her physician during the COVID‐19 pandemic, resulting in delayed detection of liver metastasis. Inter‐hospital collaboration is required to provide uninterrupted cancer care to those disproportionately affected by crises. Few case‐based analyses have been conducted regarding the breast cancer patients who are disproportionately affected by the COVID‐19 pandemic. This case shows that patients with metastatic disease traveling from remote areas to see their physicians may need specific support so that they can receive uninterrupted care during the pandemic.

Possible association of Typhoon Hagibis and the COVID-19 pandemic on patient delay in breast cancer patients: A case report.

Little is known on how different types of disasters interact in their impacts on patient care. We experienced a breast cancer patient whose initial presentation was delayed for 2 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Typhoon Hagibis. Increasing awareness is needed on the combined impacts of disasters on breast cancer management.