Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) Vaccine Effectiveness against Symptomatic Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19 Infection among Outpatients in Sentinel Sites, Lebanon, July-December 2021.

On 14 February 2021, Lebanon implemented nationwide vaccination, offering the Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) vaccine to adults over 50 years of age. We estimated the effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in preventing symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. We conducted a test-negative case-control (TND) study among symptomatic adults aged 50 years and older who presented with influenza-like illness (ILI) or COVID-19-like illness (CLI) in surveillance sentinel sites between 1 July and 31 December 2021.

Behavioural and Cognitive Attitudes of Paediatricians towards Influenza Self-Vaccination-Partial Mediation Model.

(1) Background: This study aims to analyse the attitudinal components influencing paediatricians' self-vaccination. (2) Methods: The national-cross survey was conducted among paediatricians involved in childhood vaccination within the immunisation program. (3) Results: A hypothetical model indicating the influence of cognitive and behavioural factors on influenza vaccination among paediatricians was verified based on a survey of Polish paediatricians.

Sociodemographic determinants of catch-up HPV vaccination completion between 2016-2019 in Norway.

Between 2016 and 2019, a catch-up human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination took place in Norway for women born between 1991 and 1996. The aim of this study was to identify sociodemographic determinants of complete vaccination (3 doses) and partial vaccination (1-2 doses). A random sample of 10,000 women who were offered catch-up HPV vaccination were invited.

Easy access to vaccination was important for adherence during the 2016-2019 HPV catch-up vaccination in Norway.

Between September and October 2019, the Norwegian Institute for Public Health (NIPH) surveyed women born between 1991 and 1996 who were offered catch-up vaccination for human papilloma virus (HPV). The aim was to identify determinants of vaccine schedule adherence. A random sample of 10,000 women who were offered catch-up vaccination were invited to participate in the survey.

Exotic dried fruits caused Agbeni outbreak with severe clinical presentation, Norway, December 2018 to March 2019.

We describe an outbreak of Agbeni sequence type (ST)2009 infections in Norway. Between 31 December 2018 and 16 March 2019, 56 cases (33 female and 23 male; median age: 50 years, range: 2-91) were reported, of which 21 were hospitalised. Cases were defined as people living in Norway, with laboratory-confirmed infection with .

Reporting of notifiable infectious diseases during the COVID-19 response.

Background: The Norwegian Surveillance System for Communicable Diseases (MSIS) is based on reporting of cases of 72 mandatory notifiable diseases by clinical microbiological laboratories and diagnosing physicians. The aim of our study was to investigate a potential temporal association between measures against COVID-19 in February-April 2020 and incidence of other infectious diseases reported to MSIS.

Material And Method: We compared the number of disease cases reported to MSIS during weeks 6-14 in 2020 with the median of cases reported in corresponding weeks during three previous years (2017-2019).

High overall confidence in childhood vaccination in Norway, slightly lower among the unemployed and those with a lower level of education.

In Norway, childhood immunisation is offered on voluntary basis, free of charge and is delivered through trained nurses at > 650 child health centres and school health services. Maintaining high confidence in the vaccination programme is key to sustaining high vaccine uptake. We aimed to investigate confidence in childhood vaccination in the general population and to identify determinants for lower confidence.

Exploring factors improving support for vaccinations among Polish primary care physicians.

In Poland, primary care physicians are the most used and most trusted source of information on immunisation. We aimed to explore factors influencing support for vaccinations among physicians employed in the childhood immunisation programme, in order to inform education of healthcare workers and programme organization. In June-July 2017, we carried out a national cross-sectional survey of physicians working in randomly selected primary healthcare practices, and interviewed them by telephone.

Genetic diversity of Francisella tularensis in Poland with comments on MLVA genotyping and a proposition of a novel rapid v4-genotyping.

We investigated the genotypes of Francisella tularensis (F. tularensis) strains isolated in Poland during the period 1953-2013 and studied their genetic relationship to F. tularensis strains isolated in other countries using MLVA.

Increase of scabies infestations, Norway, 2006 to 2018.

Between October and December 2018, several clinicians in Norway reported an increase in scabies diagnoses. We compared data from the Norwegian Syndromic Surveillance System on medical consultations for mite infestations with scabies treatment sales data to investigate this reported increase. From 2013 to 2018, consultations and sales of scabies treatments had almost increased by threefold, particularly affecting young adults 15-29 years.

Pneumococcal meningitis before the introduction of 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine into the National Childhood Immunization Program in Poland.

Background: Poland introduced the 10-valent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine (PCV10) into the childhood immunization program in January 2017. During previous decades, considerable changes had occurred in the surveillance system for invasive pneumococcal disease. Therefore, to provide baseline data on pneumococcal diseases before PCV10 introduction, we evaluated the epidemiology of pneumococcal meningitis (PM), the only syndrome monitored consistently since 1970.

Association between exposure to a mixture of phenols, pesticides, and phthalates and obesity: Comparison of three statistical models.

Background: The evaluation of the chemical impact on human health is usually constrained to the analysis of the health effects of exposure to a single chemical or a group of similar chemicals at one time. The effects of chemical mixtures are seldom analyzed. In this study, we applied three statistical models to assess the association between the exposure to a mixture of seven xenobiotics (three phthalate metabolites, two phenols, and two pesticides) and obesity.

A Predictive Model Has Identified Tick-Borne Encephalitis High-Risk Areas in Regions Where No Cases Were Reported Previously, Poland, 1999-2012.

During 1999–2012, 77% of the cases of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) were recorded in two out of 16 Polish provinces. However, historical data, mostly from national serosurveys, suggest that the disease could be undetected in many areas. The aim of this study was to identify which routinely-measured meteorological, environmental, and socio-economic factors are associated to TBE human risk across Poland, with a particular focus on areas reporting few cases, but where serosurveys suggest higher incidence.

Are the current notification criteria for Lyme borreliosis in Norway suitable? Results of an evaluation of Lyme borreliosis surveillance in Norway, 1995-2013.

Background: The approach to surveillance of Lyme borreliosis varies between countries, depending on the purpose of the surveillance system and the notification criteria used, which prevents direct comparison of national data. In Norway, Lyme borreliosis is notifiable to the Surveillance System for Communicable Diseases (MSIS). The current notification criteria include a combination of clinical and laboratory results for borrelia infection (excluding Erythema migrans) but there are indications that these criteria are not followed consistently by clinicians and by laboratories.

European public health policies for managing contacts of invasive meningococcal disease cases better harmonised in 2013 than in 2007.

In 2007, a European survey identified variation in country policies on public health management of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). In 2009-10, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) published evidence-based guidance on IMD. We therefore surveyed again European countries to describe policies for managing IMD cases and contacts in 2013.

Strong Public Health Recommendations from Weak Evidence? Lessons Learned in Developing Guidance on the Public Health Management of Meningococcal Disease.

The evidence underpinning public health policy is often of low quality, leading to inconsistencies in recommended interventions. One example is the divergence in national policies across Europe for managing contacts of invasive meningococcal disease. Aiming to develop consistent guidance at the European level, a group of experts reviewed the literature and formulated recommendations.

Predictors for diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis infection in Poland, 2009-2010.

Background: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral infection with no available treatment. Due to its non-specific symptoms, TBE tends to be under-diagnosed and under-reported. We aimed to identify factors predicting TBE diagnosis to develop a diagnostic algorithm for use by physicians.

Measles vaccination coverage survey in moba, katanga, democratic republic of congo, 2013: need to adapt routine and mass vaccination campaigns to reach the unreached.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has committed to eliminate measles by 2020. In 2013, in response to a large outbreak, Médecins Sans Frontières conducted a mass vaccination campaign (MVC) in Moba, Katanga, DRC. We estimated the measles vaccination coverage for the MVC, the Expanded Programme on Immunization routine measles vaccination (EPI) and assessed reasons for non-vaccination.

Incidence and factors predicting whooping cough due to parapertussis diagnosis among patients referred to general practitioners, Poland, 2009-2011.

Parapertussis leads to similar symptoms as pertussis, both being caused by bacteria from the genus Bordetella. Poland does not routinely diagnose nor conduct surveillance for parapertussis. We estimated parapertussis incidence and determined predictors of parapertussis diagnosis in the Polish population.

Cross-border surveillance differences: tick-borne encephalitis and lyme borreliosis in the Czech Republic and Poland, 1999-2008.

We compared neighbouring regions of the Czech Republic (CZ) and Poland (PL) situated within 100 km of the country border, in order to compare surveillance systems performance in measuring the burden of tick-borne diseases in both countries. We used routine surveillance notifications from 1999-2008 on tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and Lyme borreliosis (LB). We assessed the crude risk ratio (RR) across the country border, and its estimates adjusted for both population density and the expected epidemiological gradient across the region, using negative binomial regression.

Incidence of pertussis in patients of general practitioners in Poland.

We estimated the incidence of pertussis in patients consulting general practitioners (GPs). Between July 2009 and April 2011, we conducted a prospective cohort study of patients attending 78 general practices (158 863 persons overall). We included patients aged ≥ 3 years, with cough lasting 2-15 weeks, who gave informed consent.

New endemic foci of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) identified in districts where testing for TBE was not available before 2009 in Poland.

Background: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is found in limited endemic foci in Poland. Lack of diagnosis limits disease detection in non-endemic provinces.

Methods: In 2009, we enhanced TBE surveillance to confirm the location of endemic foci and inform vaccination policy.

Costs of Medically Attended Acute Gastrointestinal Infections: The Polish Prospective Healthcare Utilization Survey.

Objectives: The burden of acute gastrointestinal infections (AGIs) on the society has not been well studied in Central European countries, which prevents the implementation of effective, targeted public health interventions.

Methods: We investigated patients of 11 randomly selected general practices and 8 hospital units. Each patient meeting the international AGI case definition criteria was interviewed on costs incurred related to the use of health care resources.