In Lebanon, the nationwide vaccination against COVID-19 was launched in February 2021 using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and prioritizing elderly people, persons with comorbidities, and healthcare workers. Our study aims to estimate the post-introduction vaccine effectiveness (VE) of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in preventing COVID-19 hospitalizations among elderly people ≥75 years old in Lebanon. A case-control study design was used.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: The first detected case in Lebanon on 21 February 2020 engendered implementation of a nationwide lockdown alongside timely contact-tracing and testing.
Objectives: Our study aims to calculate the serial interval of SARS-CoV-2 using contact tracing data collected 21 February to 30 June 2020 in Lebanon to guide testing strategies.
Methods: rRT-PCR positive COVID-19 cases reported to the Ministry of Public Health Epidemiological Surveillance Program (ESU-MOH) are rapidly investigated and identified contacts tested.
Influenza causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Owing to its ability to rapidly evolve and spread, the influenza virus is of global public health importance. Information on the burden, seasonality and risk factors of influenza in countries of the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region is emerging because of collaborative efforts between countries, WHO and its partners over the past 10 years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDementia is a leading cause of dependency and disability among older adults. Minimal knowledge, poor attitudes and negative perceptions are barriers of dementia early screening, diagnosis and treatment. This is the first study that assesses knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of dementia among a Middle Eastern population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInfluenza causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Owing to its ability to rapidly evolve and spread, the influenza virus is of global public health importance. Information on the burden, seasonality and risk factors of influenza in countries of the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region is emerging because of collaborative efforts between countries, WHO and its partners over the past 10years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Given the sparse information on the burden of influenza in Lebanon, the Ministry of Public Health established a sentinel surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) to identify the attribution of influenza to reported cases. We aim to highlight the proportion of influenza-associated SARI from September 1st, 2015 to August 31st, 2016 in 2 Lebanese hospitals.
Methods: The study was conducted in 2 sentinel sites located in Beirut suburbs and southern province of Lebanon.