ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 infodemic can be counteracted by clear and consistent communication of scientific evidence and improved health literacy between the public and informants. For complete eradication of COVID-19, several vaccines are approved in various countries for public use by regulatory authorities. Assessing public perception regarding COVID-19 vaccination is an important area of research. In the current study, we aim to evaluate the opinions of individuals from multiple localities about COVID-19 and its vaccination through an online survey. Participants of the study were divided into different groups based on age, profession, demography, and income, and their opinions were calculated in percentage. In age group analysis we reported the highest willingness, 62.8 % (n=22) in age group 30-40, followed by 60 % (n=3) in age group >50, 58.6 % (n=244) in age group 20-30, 57.95 % (n=51) was in age group 15-20 and the least willingness, 33.33 % (n=4) in age group 40-50. The highest disagreement regarding vaccination of 60 % was found in age group >50, followed by 33.3 % in the age group 40-50, 14.7 % in the age group 20-30, 11.4 % in the age group 15-20 and 30-40. Similarly based on profession, maximum acceptability, 59.1 % (n=262) was reported in students, followed by a businessman (68.7 %, n=11), professional workers (3.5 %, n=20). Likewise, in demographic analysis, individuals from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) (61.3 %, n=200) were found more enthusiastic for vaccination, followed by AJK (58.33 %, n=7) and Islamabad (58.1 %, n=32). In the same way, people with income range $435-$621/month showed the highest willingness (65.7 %, n=69) regarding vaccination, followed by income group ($621 or more $s/month). Surprisingly, individuals from the low-income group were found more interested in vaccination as compared to the higher-income group. Comparatively low interest of high-income group individuals may be due to more exposure to conspiracy theories shared on social media. © Pakistan Academy of Sciences.
ABSTRACT
Background The 2020 COVID-19 global pandemic required significant and immediate adjustments in service delivery. For our paediatric secondary care epilepsy service most outpatient consultations were switched to virtual from face-to-face. Initially this was via phone, and then included video calls. As we have begun to live with COVID we have developed a blended approach with mixture of face to face and virtual appointments within our service. We wanted to evaluate our families' experience of this to inform service planning and design moving forwards. Objectives To evaluate families' initial experience of non-faceto-face secondary care paediatric epilepsy clinics and their subsequent reflections and experience one year on in order to inform service re-design. Methods Families of children seen virtually between 1st March and June 30th 2020 were contacted retrospectively via telephone for feedback on their experience. The questionnaire enquired into satisfaction, advantages/disadvantages over face to face and opinions on continuation of virtual appointments. Time and money savings, along with the environmental benefits were estimated. A second review of all families under the service is currently underway which includes same questions as initial survey and the Epilepsy 12 patient/patient reported experience measure (PREM). Results First phase: 24/45 families responded. 21 had telephone clinics and 3 video (video commenced mid-June). Five of those using phone clinics would have preferred video consultation. No one experienced technical difficulties. 25% (6/ 24) thought a face to face appointment might have been better but were satisfied with the consultation. All would be happy to have virtual consultations again. Advantages over face to face clinics included time savings and being less stressful for the child/young person. On average parents reported saving 136 minutes of time (range 30-180) and £18.90 (range £0-60) with virtual consultation compared to face-to-face. 20.47 miles of driving were prevented on average per patient (range 2.4-43.2). Phase two data collection is in progress at time of abstract submission but will be available to present and share at conference. Conclusions COVID has changed the way we will deliver healthcare services. We need to ensure that these changes are safe and effective as well as meet user preferences. Our initial evaluation offered overwhelming user support for the opportunity to permanently adjust the patient pathway within paediatric epilepsy services to include virtual consultation's as part of this. All families would be happy to use again and many cited they would prefer this on an on-going basis, either exclusively or combined with face-to-face. Benefits included savings in time, money and positive environmental impact. Most recent patient/parent report experience measures are to be added. As professionals we need to be satisfied that the virtual model offers adequate opportunity for privacy and consultation with the young person alone;enables the voice of the child/young person to be heard and does not adversely impact on our ability to identify and evaluate any safeguarding concerns. On-going review and wider research will be required to ensure that clinical outcomes aren't affected negatively by any change in service models.
ABSTRACT
The pandemic of COVID-19 has affected millions of individuals around the globe. Its impact on the world has made essential progress in the research sector to develop safe and effective vaccines. Several vaccines for COVID-19 have been made utilizing the SARS-CoV-2’s spike protein. Presently, Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine are approved and suggested by CDC to prevent the COVID-19. Five vaccines (till April 2021) have been approved by WHO on emergency basis which are AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Sinopharm, and Johnson & Johnson. The Food and Drug Administration approve the scientific standard of drugs and vaccine such as their efficacy, safety, and quality. Currently, ambiguous information regarding COVID-19 vaccine are being circulated globally. During health crisis, rumours roll out and generate fear, psychosis, and anxiety. On the other hand, the variants of SARS-CoV-2 are continuously emerging across the globe. Different platforms are being utilized for the development of whole virus-based vaccine, nucleic acid-based vaccine, and proteins sub-unit vaccine;all displayed good efficacy where few were further proceeded to clinical trials. The current article provide an overview on the COVID-19 vaccines, their efficacy, and discuss the possible reduction in vaccine efficacy due to the emergence of new variants. © 2021, Giunti. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The pandemic of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) which is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), is continuously hitting the world and millions of individuals have been affected so far. Limited therapeutic options are available for the treatment of Covid-19 while scientists around the globe are working hard to make the vaccines clinically available to the maximum human population. Alarmingly, SARS-CoV-2 variants of SRAS-CoV-2 are emerging in different regions of the world, hence threatening the efficacy of the clinically available vaccines. In such a scenario, the utilization of medicinal plants or traditional medicine could be the most preferred choice along with the precautionary measure to be adopted against the Covid-19. The current article has summarized few important food plants that have previously exhibited promising immunomodulatory or antiviral activities. These medicinal plants could be suggested for boosting the immune system and could be utilized against their utilization against SARS-CoV-2. It could be concluded that medicinal plants especially Allium sativum, Curcuma longa, and Allium cepa along with other plants/herbs/spices could not only be used against SARS-CoV-2 but also other viral, bacterial, or other parasitic diseases other prevalent diseases prevalent in the region. © Pakistan Academy of Sciences.
ABSTRACT
Background: latrogenic and nosocomial infections are a serious threat to a healthcare setting especially during a pandemic. Hand hygiene among the health-care workers stands out to be a pivotal preventive measure. Practical application of hand hygiene measures during third wave of COVID-19 pandemic primarily depend upon the current knowledge among the health care workers. Methods: A cross-sectional study design based on validated WHO questionnaire for hand hygiene among the health care workers was conducted during March till May2021 in the settings of Shalamar and Central Park hospital and medical colleges. Results: The sample consisted of 271 participants with 110 males and 161 females, with the mean age of 24.72+ 4.174 years. The sample consisted of 36.2% of medical students, 49.1% of doctors and 14.8% of paramedical staff. Nearly 50.6% of the individuals claim to receive formal training. 47.6% believe that "Health-care workers' hands when not clean" are the main route of cross-transmission. Nearly 57.2% believed that the hospital environment (surfaces)the most frequent source of germs. Comparison of hand-rubbing and washing revealed that major percentage believe hand rub to be rapid however less effective causing dryness. A majority believe that hand hygiene before touching the patient, immediately after exposure to body fluids or immediate surroundings of patients prevents transmission of germs to the patient and vice versa afterwards prevents transmission to HCW. Conclusion: A large proportion of the sample has considerable knowledge regarding essential hand hygiene in a health care setting. However more frequent training sessions should be conducted to improve it further.