Collateral Impact of Public Health and Social Measures on Respiratory Virus Activity during the COVID-19 Pandemic 2020-2021.

Many countries have implemented public health and social measures (PHSMs) to control the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Although the PHSMs are targeted at SARS-CoV-2 transmission control, they directly or indirectly impact the epidemiology of different respiratory viral diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the collateral impact of PHSMs used during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the epidemiology of other respiratory viruses, including influenza, parainfluenza, respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, and adenovirus infections. We conducted a systematic review of the published literature on changes in the incidence of respiratory viral diseases and detection rates of the respiratory viruses during COVID-19 pandemic, lasting from 2020-2021, published between December 2019 and March 2022 in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. We identified an overall decrease of 23-94% in the incidence of respiratory viral diseases and a decrease of 0-98% in the detection of the viruses. Our study suggests that the PHSMs implemented during COVID-19 pandemic reduced the incidence of respiratory viral diseases and transmission of respiratory viruses. At the time of this study, and as governments relax PHSMs, public health authorities should prepare for a probable increase in the burden of respiratory viral diseases.

Acceptance of the COVID-19 Vaccine by Foreigners in South Korea.

Vaccination against COVID-19 is an important strategy for its control. Assessing the willingness to accept the COVID-19 vaccine in different subgroups is important for an inclusive vaccination program design. Our aim was to determine the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate and associated factors among foreigners in South Korea. An online cross-sectional study was carried out from May to June 2021. In this study, 710 individuals participated and most were aged between 26 and 29 (36.1%) years. Overall, 70.8% were willing to receive the vaccine. Males were less likely to accept the vaccine than females (OR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.4-0.7, p < 0.001). Single people were more likely to receive the vaccine than those who were married (OR: 1.4; 95% CI: 0.9-2.0, p = 0.04). Other factors associated with willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccine were; vaccine convenience (OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.2-2.3, p = 0.002), doctors' recommendation (OR: 2.8; 95% CI: 2.0-3.9, p < 0.001), vaccine price (OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.2-2.3, p = 0.003), vaccine effectiveness (OR: 8.3; 95% CI: 5.8-12.1, p < 0.001), vaccine importance (OR: 7.9; 95% CI: 4.6-14.1, p < 0.001), and vaccine safety (OR: 6.9; 95% CI: 4.5-10.8, p < 0.001). Providing more information on vaccine safety and effectiveness is required to increase vaccine acceptance.

Fragmentary thoughts about code of conduct and risk communication to prevent and control COVID-19 in Korea, 2020

Objectives: COVID-19 has spread beyond Hubei Province of China to Europe, North America, and Asian countries including Korea, to enter the global pandemic stage. This article evaluated the code of conduct and risk communication strategies of COVID-19 in South Korea. Methods: The current status, and issues related to the code of conduct for prevention and management of COVID-19, a key area of risk communication, were reviewed, and future tasks were drawn. Results: The code of conduct and risk communication strategies for COVID-19 prevention and management should be developed according to the stage of the crisis alert and customized for each group. A consistent, unified and scientific evidence-based message with real life applicability should be developed and should be continuously and systematically monitored and evaluated. Conclusion: It is expected that evidence will be gathered through sufficient and diverse data analysis and in-depth research, to prepare guidelines and develop appropriate policies regarding code of conduct and risk communication.