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Introduction: Vaccination against COVID-19 promoted among high-risk populations such as an oral health care worker is one of the most rapidly and massively deployed interventions in history. Objective: The overall objective of our study was to assess the perception and attitudes regarding COVID-19 vaccination among oral health care workers in comparison to other health care workers in Yaoundé. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April 2022 (3 months) on 360 health personnel in three hospitals in Yaoundé. All health personnel who gave informed consent were included in the study. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0 software with a significance level of p<0.05. Results: In more than half of the cases, doubt about the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines was found without any difference between the oral practitioners (53.3%) and the others (58.7%) (p=0.476). Fear of harm was mainly found among oral practitioners (75.0% vs 46.4%;p=0.006). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of vaccination coverage and motivations for vaccination between our two socio-professional groups (p ≥0.05). Conclusion: the fear of the harmfulness of the COVID-19 vaccine was preponderant among healthcare personnel working in the oral sphere. De-structuring the representation of this vaccine among this population could improve the response to this disease.
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Laboratory tests revealed slight elevations in C-reactive protein level (1.60 mg/dL;normal, ≤0.30 mg/dL), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (22 mm/h;normal, ≤11 mg/dL), and serum ferritin (1083 ng/mL;normal, ≤114 ng/mL) with a normal white blood cell count. Serological examinations for autoimmune diseases (e.g., antinuclear antibody, rheumatoid factor, anticyclic citrullinated peptide-antibody, anti-double-stranded DNA-antibody, anti-Smith antibody, anti-aminoacyl tRNA synthetase-antibody, anti-Mi-2-antibody, anti-transcriptional intermediary factor 1-γ-antibody, and anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5-antibody) and infections (e.g., human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, parvovirus B19, syphilis, and Streptococcus) were negative. The etiology of AOSD is unclear;however, pathogen-associated- (PAMPs) or damage-associated molecular patterns may activate the immune system in genetically predisposed patients, 5 leading to interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 overproduction, known as a cytokine storm. 5 The SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins, envelope proteins, and viral RNA are potent PAMPs, whereas the nucleocapsid proteins can block IL-1β release. 1 The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines encode spike proteins but not nucleocapsid proteins, and thus may disturb the host immune system.
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Introduction Classification criteria and practice guidelines for inpatient management of multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) exist, but reports on outpatient management and clinical outcomes are lacking. Here we describe the management and clinical outcomes of four children and four adults with MIS seen at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) from diagnosis to six months follow-up. Methods This retrospective, case-series describes the initial presentation and management of MIS in four children and four adults seen at WRNMMC from March 2020 to September 2021. Data on each patient was collected from the time of exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus to six months post-diagnosis with MIS. Extracted data includes: demographics, comorbidities, initial MIS presentation, inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, and clinical outcomes. Results A total of 62.5% of patients presented in shock. All pediatric patients received IVIG, methylprednisolone, and anakinra; no adult received this combination. Steroids and immunomodulatory medications were discontinued in 1-2 months outpatient. Three children and two adults had full symptomatic resolution. One child and two adults had persistent deconditioning at six months follow-up. One adult had persistent dyspnea. Conclusions MIS appears to be monophasic with no recurrences at six months follow-up in our patients who only required 1-2 months of glucocorticoid or immunomodulatory medications. The better outcomes in children raise the question of how much of this difference can be attributed to early combination therapy versus physiologic differences in children and adults.
ABSTRACT
BackgroundDespite progress in achieving herd immunity through recovery from previous infection and vaccination efforts, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be an imminent health concern. Exposure to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral antigen through infection or vaccination facilitates immune system efficacy against future infection, but it is currently unclear how long this immunity lasts. Therefore, understanding the necessary exposures to produce adequate antibody levels and the duration of this humoral response to prevent infection is imperative in updating guidelines for vaccination and ultimately ending this public health crisis. AimsThis study aimed to compare the presence of serum antibodies in younger and older age groups to determine how vaccination and previous infection compare as indicators of immunity against COVID-19. We also evaluated age to determine its role in antibody presence. We hope that this information will be helpful to the public to develop the best recommendations for vaccination guidelines concerning distinct demographics. Materials and methodsIn this retrospective data analysis, we evaluated saliva SARS-CoV-2 test results taken from 309 subjects (192F/117M;median age=53.4) during a community fair in Crawford County, PA. We sorted the subjects into groups based on age, reported infection with the COVID-19 virus, and vaccination status. We then performed a Chi-square analysis to compare the frequency of positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests within these groups.ResultsThe vaccinated but not previously-infected cohort (n=146, 81.5%) was significantly more likely to have antibodies than the unvaccinated infected cohort (n=55, 65.5%;p<0.0001). In the previously-infected, unvaccinated cohort, individuals who were 55 and older were more likely to have antibodies than younger individuals (p<0.0157), but no age-dependent difference was observed among vaccinated individuals.ConclusionsThe results suggest that vaccination provides a more durable immune response than recovery from infection, and there is an age-dependent humoral response following previous infection but not vaccination. Practically speaking, this information implies that despite popular misconception, individuals under the age of 55 must receive a COVID-19 vaccine despite the previous infection as they are significantly less likely to have antibodies following infection than their counterparts who are over the age of 55.