Publications by authors named "Evelyn Twentyman"

Nursing home residents are at elevated risk for severe complications from respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Nursing homes are required to report COVID-19 vaccination coverage and can voluntarily report influenza and RSV vaccination coverage among residents to CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network. The purpose of this study was to assess COVID-19, influenza, and RSV vaccination coverage among nursing home residents early in the 2024-25 respiratory virus season.

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  • - COVID-19 vaccines have been a significant success in reducing hospitalizations and deaths in the U.S., with over 675 million doses given and over 80% of the population receiving at least one dose.
  • - The vaccines are estimated to have prevented more than 18 million hospitalizations and 3 million deaths, despite over one million fatalities from COVID-19 during the pandemic.
  • - The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has actively reviewed data and made recommendations on COVID-19 vaccines, emphasizing their safety and effectiveness as key tools in combating serious illness from the virus.
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  • COVID-19 vaccines are crucial for preventing severe outcomes, like hospitalization and death, but their effectiveness has been impacted by evolving variants.
  • Since September 2022, bivalent mRNA vaccines were recommended, but they were tailored to variants that are no longer prevalent.
  • As of September and October 2023, the FDA approved updated vaccines from Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Novavax to enhance immunity against currently circulating variants, with vaccination recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older.
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Background Hypertension and diabetes are associated with increased COVID-19 severity. The association between level of control of these conditions and COVID-19 severity is less well understood. Methods and Results This retrospective cohort study identified adults with COVID-19, March 2020 to February 2022, in 43 US health systems in the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network.

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  • The CDC has been providing guidelines for COVID-19 vaccine use in the U.S. during the national public health emergency, based on recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
  • Between August 2022 and April 2023, the FDA approved a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine that targets both the original virus and Omicron BA.4/BA.5 strains for people aged 6 and older, as well as vaccines for younger children and additional doses for high-risk groups.
  • Currently, there are three approved COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S.: the bivalent mRNA Pfizer-BioNTech, the bivalent mRNA Moderna, and the monovalent Novavax, while mon
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Evidence has consistently demonstrated that COVID-19 messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines are safe when given during pregnancy. COVID-19 mRNA vaccines protect pregnant people and their infants who are too young to receive COVID-19 vaccines. Although generally protective, monovalent vaccine effectiveness was lower during SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant predominance, in part due to changes in the Omicron spike protein.

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Introduction: Hypertension and diabetes are associated with increased COVID-19 severity, yet less is known about COVID-19 outcomes across levels of disease control for these conditions.

Methods: All adults aged ≥20 years with COVID-19 between March 1, 2020 and March 15, 2021 in 42 healthcare systems in National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network were identified.

Results: Among 656,049 adults with COVID-19, 41% had hypertension, and 13% had diabetes.

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The implementation of several tobacco control policies in the Philippines may have contributed to a decrease in secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure. We examined changes in SHS exposure at work and in public places between 2009 and 2015 among adults aged ≥15 years and interpreted these results within the tobacco policy landscape in the Philippines. We analyzed the Philippines Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2009 and 2015 data.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The FDA has approved four COVID-19 vaccines for primary series vaccination in the U.S., including options from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and Novavax, with dosage recommendations based on age and health status.
  • - To enhance protection amid decreasing vaccine effectiveness against the Omicron variant, the FDA authorized bivalent booster doses for individuals aged 5 and older who completed a primary vaccination series.
  • - The bivalent vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna contain equal mRNA from both the original virus and the Omicron strains, and health authorities recommend that eligible individuals receive the booster at least two months after their last vaccination.
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Evidence-based treatments for tobacco use and dependence can increase cessation success but remain underutilized. Health professional societies and voluntary health organizations (advising organizations) are uniquely positioned to influence the delivery of cessation treatments by providing clinical guidance for healthcare providers. This study aimed to review the guidance produced by these organizations for content and consistency with current evidence.

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  • - The NVX-CoV2373 (Novavax) COVID-19 vaccine uses a recombinant spike protein nanoparticle combined with a Matrix-M adjuvant, aiming to protect adults aged 18 and older from COVID-19, with two doses administered three weeks apart.
  • - The FDA granted Emergency Use Authorization for this vaccine on July 13, 2022, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices issued an interim recommendation shortly after its authorization.
  • - The vaccine demonstrated a notable efficacy of 89.6% against symptomatic COVID-19, although rare cases of myocarditis or pericarditis were reported, and further updates on its use are expected as more data emerges.
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  • The FDA granted Emergency Use Authorization for the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for young children, allowing 2 doses of Moderna for kids 6 months-5 years and 3 doses of Pfizer for those 6 months-4 years.
  • The ACIP issued interim recommendations for vaccination to help prevent COVID-19, confirming both vaccines met immunobridging criteria by comparing antibody responses in children to those in adults.
  • No significant safety issues were found in the vaccines, and the ACIP noted that the recommendations are provisional and will be updated with new data; vaccination is essential for protecting this age group.
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Country-specific estimates of tobacco use among people living with HIV (PLWH) are lacking for much of sub-Saharan Africa. We aim to evaluate the association between the HIV status and tobacco product use status, frequency, and intensity, using nationally representative data from Zambia. We analyzed data from the 2018 Demographic and Health Survey conducted in Zambia among women aged 15-49 years and men aged 15-59 years.

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Introduction: Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in the world. Identification of factors associated with quit attempts and successful quitting can help strengthen tobacco cessation programs. In Ethiopia, no prior study of such factors exists.

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Background: In 2019, the United States experienced a nationwide outbreak of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI). More than one-half of these patients required admission to an ICU.

Research Question: What are the recent literature and expert opinions which inform the diagnosis and management of patients with critical illness with EVALI?

Study Design And Methods: To synthesize information critical to pulmonary/critical care specialists in the care of patients with EVALI, this study examined data available from patients hospitalized with EVALI between August 2019 and January 2020; reviewed the clinical course and critical care experience with those patients admitted to the ICU; and compiled opinion of national experts.

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Introduction: Noticing health warnings on cigarette packages has been associated with thinking about quitting. This study examined sociodemographic characteristics associated with awareness of health warnings on cigarette packages and thinking about quitting because of health warning labels among adults who currently smoked tobacco.

Methods: We analyzed data from the 2017 Zambia WHO STEPS survey (STEPwise approach to surveillance) for noncommunicable disease risk factors.

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  • * A pause in vaccine use was recommended by the CDC and FDA on April 13, 2021, due to rare reports of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), leading to emergency meetings by ACIP to assess safety.
  • * By December 2021, after ongoing evaluations of safety data, ACIP recommended preferring mRNA vaccines over the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for those 18 and older, while noting that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine might be suitable in certain
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Background: Five data-to-action workshops were conducted during 2016-2019 with participants from 38 countries. The purpose of the workshops is to use data to inform and disseminate tobacco prevention and control strategies. We evaluated the workshops using the Kirkpatrick Model for evaluation of trainings.

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Background: Smokeless tobacco (SLT) use is associated with multiple adverse health effects. It is prominent in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, but disparities in use within and across these countries are not well documented or understood. This study assessed the prevalence, patterns, and correlates of SLT use in these three countries.

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Introduction: About 80% of the 1.1 billion people who smoke tobacco worldwide reside in low- and middle-income countries. Evidence-based approaches to promote cessation include brief advice from health professionals and referrals through quitlines.

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This article describes a significant decline in emergency department visits for acute life-threatening conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that patients may be delaying or avoiding care or unable to access care during the pandemic.

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Introduction: In 2003, the Philippines implemented legislation that prohibited the sale of tobacco products to youth, placed text warning labels on tobacco products, and prohibited tobacco smoking in public places. This study assessed if this legislation was associated with reduced cigarette smoking among youth.

Methods: Data came from the 2000-2015 Philippines Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey of students aged 13-15 years.

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