Assessment of immunoglobin G (spike and nucleocapsid protein) response to COVID-19 vaccination in Palestine.

Introduction: Many countries have begun immunization programs and established protocols to combat pandemics caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Six months after vaccination, the antibody titers produced by the immunization begin to decline, and individuals whose first immunization (either one or two doses) did not provide adequate protection may require a booster dose. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey of 18-year-olds and older was undertaken in the West Bank from June 15 to June 27, 2022. Each participant had 5 mL of blood drawn to be tested for IgG-S, IgG-N, and blood group. Results: All participants had positive IgG-S results; IgG-S values ranged between 77 and 40,000 AU/ml, with a mean value of 1254 AU/ml. The value of IgG-N ranged from 0 to 139.3 U/ml for all participants, with a mean value of 22.4 U/ml. 64 (37.2%) of the participants demonstrated positive IgG-N screening results, with mean values of 51.2 U/ml. Female participants' mean IgG concentration was higher than male participants. Furthermore, the results revealed that smokers had lower levels of vaccine-induced antibodies than nonsmokers. High significance was found in the time from the last vaccine till the blood sample test (T = 3.848, P < .001), and the group between 6 and 9 months was found to have higher mean values than the 9-months group (M = 15952). Conclusions: Participants vaccinated with a higher number of vaccines tend to have higher IgG-S. To elevate total antibodies, booster doses are essential. Additional researchers are needed to examine the positive correlation between IgG-S and IgG-N.

Side effects of Pfizer/BioNTech (BNT162b2) COVID-19 vaccine reported by the Birzeit University community.

BACKGROUND: The Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was the first to receive emergency authorization and approval from the FDA. Therefore, it is preferred by most recipients; however, many people are concerned about the vaccine's side effects. At the time of the study, December 2021, Palestine lacked a national reporting system for monitoring adverse vaccine effects. Therefore, this study investigates the post-vaccine adverse events following the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine administration in Palestine and identifies the occurrence, extent, and severity among university staff, employees, and students at Birzeit University. METHOD: A questionnaire-based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using a university website (Ritaj), social media platforms (e.g., Facebook and Telegram), and in-person interviews. The Chi-square, Fisher's exact, and McNemar's tests were used to investigate significant relationships. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. RESULTS: In total, 1137 participants completed the questionnaire, 33.2% were males, and the mean age was 21.163 years. All participants received at least one dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Approximately one-third of participants reported no adverse effects after receiving the first, second, or third doses (34%, 33.6%, and 32.5%, respectively). The most commonly reported adverse events were fever, chills, headache, fatigue, pain and swelling at the injection site, muscle pain, and joint pain. Allergic reactions were reported by 12.7% of the participants; furthermore, participants with a history of allergy or anaphylaxis before vaccination had a significantly higher tendency for post-vaccination allergic reactions. Eight participants reported rare side effects, including 7 (0.6%) cases of thrombocytopenia and one (0.1%) case of myocarditis. Males aged less than 20 years and smokers were significantly less likely to complain of adverse events. The number of reported side effects was significantly higher after the second vaccine dose than after the first dose. Finally, participants infected with COVID-19 before vaccination was significantly associated with side effects such as fever, chills, shortness of breath, and persistent cough. CONCLUSION: In this study, the most common post- BNT162b2 Vaccination reported self-limiting side effects similar to those reported by Pfizer/BioNTech Company. However, higher rates of allergic reactions were reported in this sample. Rare side effects, such as thrombocytopenia and myocarditis, were reported by 8 participants. COVID vaccines have been developed at an accelerated pace, and vaccine safety is a top priority; therefore, standard monitoring through a national adverse event reporting system is necessary for safety assurance. Continuous monitoring and long-term studies are required to ensure vaccine safety.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices about coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among Birzeit University students: a cross-sectional study.

Aim: COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, has been characterized as a pandemic, as it spreads all over the world and has so far infected more than 20 million worldwide. In Palestine, the first seven cases were documented on March 5 2020, followed by the declaration of the state of emergency. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices toward COVID-19 among Birzeit University students. Subject and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out; a questionnaire was developed based on the WHO, CDC, and ECDC recommendations. The questionnaire was distributed online and filled out by Birzeit University students. Chi-square testing was performed to check for significant association between KAP (knowledge, attitude, and practices) and different socio-demographic variables. Binary logistic regression was performed to identify and control the confounding factors. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 22). Results: A total of 665 students have completed the online questionnaire. The mean age was 20.55 ± 3.069 years. Multivariate analysis revealed that males, students from health professions and scientific faculties, and those with highly educated parents had manifested a good knowledge level (GKL) about COVID-19. With regard to students' practices, fewer negative practices were displayed by students from health professions faculty and the students living at the middle governorate of Palestine, compared to north, south, and Jerusalem dwellers. With regard to the practices, the vast majority of the participants showed a positive and very cautious practice in relation to the COVID-19 epidemic. Conclusion: Our results revealed that students had variable knowledge about COVID-19, and the vast majority depended on the official media briefs in Palestine as a source of information. With regard to practices, positive and cautious practices with regard to the COVID- 19 epidemic were carried out by the vast majority of participants.

Evaluation of the Health Situation among Recovered Cases of COVID-19 in West Bank, Palestine, and Their Onset/Recovery Time.

Background and Aims: COVID-19 emerged at the end of 2019 and was classified as a global pandemic in March 2020. Infected cases of SARS-CoV-2 experience symptoms during initial infection 2-14 days after virus exposure, and some symptoms and complications may persist after recovery. This study evaluated the onset/recovery time, postrecovery symptoms, complications, and factors affecting the health situation of recovered cases of COVID-19 in West Bank, Palestine. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire based on related scientific articles and expert recommendations. It was distributed to recovered COVID-19 patients either face-to-face or online. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to investigate the significant relationships. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. Findings. A total of 686 participants completed the questionnaire; the mean age was 28·1 ± 11·8. SARS-CoV-2 infection recovery time was 1-2 weeks in most participants. A total of 72·4% developed post-COVID-19 symptoms. Fatigue (260, 38.0%), loss of smell (224, 32.7%), headache (207, 30.7%), and joint pain (188, 27.4%) were the most reported postrecovery symptoms. In women, fatigue and headaches were the most common symptoms that persisted after recovery. Diabetic patients endured continuous muscle and joint pain. Interpretation. Patient health situation, recovery time, and symptoms post-COVID-19 infections are affected by many demographic factors and disease status.