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Cannabis, tobacco use, and COVID-19 outcomes

A cohort study found that cannabis use was an independent risk factor for COVID-19-related complications, even after considering other risk factors. The study suggests that cannabis may increase the risk of severe illness and hospitalization due to COVID-19.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateJun 21, 2024

A study led by ISGlobal and IDIAPJGol recommends strengthening immunity against COVID-19 in people with cancer

Researchers analyzed data from over 184,000 cancer patients to assess COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness. The study found that vaccination significantly reduces mortality and serious complications among cancer patients, especially those who received the booster dose.

SourceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateJun 19, 2024

Immune response study explains why some people don't get COVID-19

Researchers used single-cell sequencing technology to study immune responses in healthy adult volunteers exposed to SARS-CoV-2. They discovered unique immune responses associated with resisting sustained viral infection and disease, including activation of specialized mucosal immune cells and a reduction in inflammatory white blood cells.

SourceWellcome Trust Sanger Institute·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 19, 2024

Passive heat exposure increases stress on the heart, posing risk to adults with history of CAD

A laboratory study found that passive heat exposure stresses the heart, increasing myocardial blood flow in all participants, regardless of age or health status. Adults with a history of CAD are at particular risk and may benefit from minimizing cardiac strain during extreme heat by staying cool.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeNews article·DateJun 10, 2024

Researchers: Excluding partisanship questions from public health surveys ‘limits our capacity for advancing population health and health equity’

A new commentary urges public health researchers to incorporate questions about partisan identity in demographic data collection, arguing that excluding this information could lead to ineffective policy and health promotion interventions. By including partisanship in more public health surveys, researchers can better track its impact o...

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateJun 3, 2024

APPC scholars find knowledge a factor in closing black-white COVID-19 vaccination gap

Research by APPC scholars found that increased knowledge about Covid-19 vaccination made a significant difference in reducing the disparity between Black and White Americans' vaccination rates. This increase was associated with improved trust in vaccine safety and efficacy, as well as reduced skepticism towards vaccines.

SourceAnnenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania·JournalJournal of Health Communication·TypeSurvey·DateMay 30, 2024

Study shows effectiveness of updated COVID-19 vaccines wanes moderately over time, is lower against currently circulating variants

New research shows updated COVID-19 vaccines still offer reasonably durable protection against infection, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19, but effectiveness decreases over time. Boosters targeting omicron subvariants are less protective against the now-dominant JN.1 strain.

SourceUNC Gillings School of Global Public Health·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMay 29, 2024

Not sure about vaccines? How public health messaging is framed makes a difference, new research reveals

Researchers found that people with a fixed mindset respond better to loss-based messaging framing when discussing vaccination, highlighting the importance of tailored communication strategies. The study generalized its findings to various contagious viruses and has implications for public health messaging.

SourceBinghamton University·JournalInternational Journal of Research in Marketing·DateMay 20, 2024

Link between COVID-19 vaccine complication and rare ‘common cold’ blood disease

Researchers from Flinders University and international experts have found a link between COVID-19 vaccine complications and a rare blood disease related to adenovirus infections. The study identified identical molecular fingerprints in both vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT) and classic adenoviral vectored VITT.

SourceFlinders University·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateMay 15, 2024

Getting out of the political echo chamber

Research suggests that presenting a balanced and pragmatic approach can foster respect and increase willingness to engage in discussions with those holding opposing views. By focusing on practical solutions and showing concern for both sides' interests, individuals can break down polarized debates and build bridges.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 13, 2024

An adjuvant made in yeast could lower vaccine cost and boost availability

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have successfully produced the QS-21 adjuvant in yeast, which is currently extracted from tree bark. The production process is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than traditional methods, making it a promising solution for lowering vaccine costs and increasing availability.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 8, 2024

The spread of misinformation varies by topic and by country in Europe

A study published in PLOS ONE found that people in Europe primarily consume trustworthy news, but a small percentage rely on questionable sources. The ratio of questionable news to reliable news consumption differs between countries, highlighting the need for context-specific approaches to fighting misinformation.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateMay 8, 2024

A third Covid vaccine dose improves defence for some clinically extremely vulnerable patients

A third Covid vaccine dose has been shown to improve defensive antibody responses in some clinically extremely vulnerable patients. The trial found that 90% of patients who received a booster dose developed significant antibodies, but more than half of those with low initial responses saw no improvement.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalThe Lancet Rheumatology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 8, 2024

SARS-CoV-2 and type 1 diabetes in children: new study aims to explore the relationship

A new study aims to investigate whether vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 can protect children at increased genetic risk of developing type 1 diabetes. The AVAnT1A Study, the largest intervention study to date, examines the relationship between viral infections and early childhood development.

Mobile teams bring COVID-19 vaccines to rural villages in Sierra Leone

A new research project showed that mobile vaccination teams are an effective way to increase vaccination uptake in remote areas of Sierra Leone. Immunization rates increased by up to 26% in trial villages, and the cost was about $33 per person, making it a cost-effective intervention.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalNature·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 7, 2024

Enabling rapid screening of poly(2-oxazoline)-based nanomedicine through divergent synthesis; towards alternative mRNA-vaccines

Researchers developed a simple and efficient method for diversifying reactive end-groups on poly(2-oxazoline)s, enabling rapid exploration of poly(2-oxazoline)-based nanomedicine platforms. The approach was shown to produce POx-based lipid nanoparticles comparable in transfection capability to their PEGylated counterparts.

SourceInnovation Center of NanoMedicine·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 6, 2024

A promising vaccine approach to induce longer-lasting protective immunity against COVID-19: NUS Medicine-Monash University study

A team of scientists has developed a novel vaccine approach that induces long-lasting protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 virus in pre-clinical models. The Clec9A-RBD antibody construct targets specific dendritic cells, leading to exceptional durability of immune responses and potential to address shortcoming of current mRNA vaccines.

SourceNational University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine·JournalMolecular Therapy·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 6, 2024

Singapore study identifies immunity threshold for protection against COVID-19 in children

Researchers found that T cells and memory B cells provide durable protection against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, with levels attainable after two doses of mRNA vaccination. The study suggests a two-dose vaccination regimen for children against COVID-19.

SourceNational University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine·JournalNature Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 2, 2024

A significant portion of the world’s population continues to trust vaccines, says survey in 23 countries

A survey across 23 countries found that the global population's overall trust in vaccination did not diminish despite COVID-19 pandemic challenges. More than 60% of participants reported increased willingness to get vaccinated for diseases other than COVID-19, suggesting a general openness to vaccination. The study emphasizes the impor...

SourceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)·JournalNature Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 30, 2024

Pandemic fatigue and vaccine hesitancy continue to affect global public health, new 23-country study in Nature Medicine reports

A new survey of 23,000 respondents from 23 countries reports mixed signals on the current acceptance of vaccines generally, especially COVID-19 boosters. The study found that global uptake of at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose rose to 87.8%, but intent to get a booster was lower compared to previous years.

SourceCUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy·JournalNature Medicine·TypeSurvey·DateApr 29, 2024

Study finds X’s (formerly Twitter’s) community notes provide accurate, credible answers to vaccine misinformation

A new study published in JAMA found X's Community Notes resulted in hundreds-of-millions of views of accurate and credible COVID-19 vaccine education, suggesting considerable potential for correcting misinformation. The notes typically addressed obvious misinformation, offering corrections from credible sources.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalJAMA·TypeObservational study·DateApr 24, 2024

UK/German study - COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness and fewer common side-effects most important factors in whether adults choose to get vaccinated

A new UK/German study suggests that perceptions of serious side effects are less than half as important as common side effects, such as fatigue or pain at the injection site, when making a decision to be vaccinated. The study found that educating the public about vaccine safety and efficacy is crucial in boosting vaccination uptake.

Understanding the link between family physician characteristics and COVID-19 vaccination gaps

Researchers analyzed data on 9060 family physicians to find a correlation between those with the largest share of unvaccinated patients, typically serving marginalized communities, who had less support in their practices. These physicians were more likely to be male, older, and work in fee-for-service models than the remaining 90%.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·TypeObservational study·DateApr 8, 2024

Study finds many younger people from high income neighborhoods jumped the eligibility queue for COVID-19 vaccines in NYC

A new study found that younger people from high-income areas accessed vaccines ahead of schedule, particularly in New York City. This led to lower coverage rates in low-income areas with high proportions of older residents, resulting in higher mortality rates over the year.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalJournal of Urban Health·DateApr 5, 2024

Pediatric health care disrupted by COVID-19 pandemic, compounded by existing barriers such as systemic racism

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly interrupted pediatric healthcare, resulting in foregone care, well-child visits, and vaccinations for vulnerable populations. Non-Hispanic White children were less likely to experience these gaps, while virtual school formats increased the risk of foregone care.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateMar 25, 2024

Annual vaccination campaign with second dose protects high-risk groups from SARS-CoV-2 and may save health care costs

A study found that an annual vaccination campaign with a second dose for children under 2 years old and individuals aged 50 and over can significantly reduce hospitalizations, deaths, and healthcare spending. The optimal timing for the second vaccination is delivering it 5 months after initial vaccination.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeNews article·DateMar 25, 2024

Text nudges can increase uptake of COVID-19 boosters– if they play up a sense of ownership of the vaccine

Researchers found that adding a note to play up psychological sense of ownership was more effective at convincing people to get the booster. This approach outperformed lab findings and expert insights, highlighting the importance of reproducibility in behavioral science.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalNature Human Behaviour·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 18, 2024

Addressing both flu and COVID-19 through a single, multitasking injection

A new multitasking substance has been identified to prevent and treat both flu and COVID-19 infections concurrently. The long-acting recombinant cytokine protein rhIL-7-hyFc demonstrated therapeutic and preventive effects against various respiratory diseases, including COVID-19, influenza virus, and respiratory syncytial virus.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalCell Reports Medicine·DateMar 18, 2024

Long COVID ‘indistinguishable’ from other post-viral syndromes a year after infection

Research suggests that long COVID's impact on the health system is due to high volumes of COVID-19 cases rather than symptom severity. Symptoms reported with long COVID include fatigue, brain fog, and shortness of breath, but are indistinguishable from those experienced by individuals with seasonal influenza or other post-viral illnesses.