Vaccinations for Hajj: Enhancing health and global health security.

The Hajj pilgrimage, one of the world's largest and most diverse mass gatherings, poses unique challenges for preventing infectious disease outbreaks. Vaccinations are vital in reducing the risk and spread of diseases during this event. This narrative review examines the impact of vaccination programs on infectious disease mitigation during the Hajj and their broader implications for global health security (GHS).

Patients' experience of telehealth clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic: Cross-sectional study.

Globally, the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in 2019 has accelerated the adoption of telehealth technologies. The implementation of the Saudi Telemedicine Network (STN) and other digital health initiatives, such as the telehealth clinic (THC) at King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAAUH), exemplifies this trend in Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study was to explore the patients' experience of THC in KAAUH during the COVID-19 pandemic and their' beliefs about their readiness to replace the traditional onsite clinical visits with THC from March to September 2020.

Public Health Challenges in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Literature Review.

Similar to most countries, Saudi Arabia faced several challenges during the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, some of which were related to the religious position of the country. The main challenges included deficits in knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward COVID-19, the negative psychological impacts of the pandemic on the general population and healthcare workers, vaccine hesitancy, the management of religious mass gatherings (e.g.

mHealth App Barriers, Usability, and Personalization: A Cross-Sectional Study from Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Mobile health (mHealth) has emerged as a substantial segment of eHealth. Herein, we conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate mHealth app barriers, usability, and personalization in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. We used a Google survey to recruit participants from both countries between the 15th of September and the 15th of October 2022.

SARS-CoV-2 Positivity in Early Infancy: A National Cohort From Saudi Arabia.

Background: Data on SARS-CoV-2 in infants ≤ 90 days are limited with conflicting reports regarding its presentation and outcomes.

Methods: We conducted an ambispective cohort study using prospectively collected Health Electronic Surveillance Network Database by the Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia. Infants of ≤ 90 days of age who had a positive RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 virus were included.

Vitamin A and its dervatives effect on bone mineral density, a systematic review.

Background: Even though vitamin A (Vit A) is one of the essential vitamins required for bone growth and development, it is still uncertain whether its effect on bone mineral density (BMD) is beneficial or harmful.

Aim: To assess Vit A's effect and its derivatives on BMD and the risk of developing osteoporosis.

Data Sources: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, Embase, and Google Scholar were searched in February 2019 and updated in November 2020.

COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia: the national health response.

Background: With the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), most countries rushed to take early measures to control this disease.

Aims: This paper describes and evaluates the Saudi Arabian strategic preparedness and response plan on COVID-19 up to 31 December 2020.

Methods: Saudi Arabia adopted the World Health Organization's guidelines on response to COVID-19, which are based on nine pillars of public health preparedness and response.

Clinical profiles associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and complications from coronavirus disease-2019 in children from a national registry in Saudi Arabia.

Context: Exploring clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) in children may help in prevention and treatment guidelines.

Aims: The aim of the to describe the spectrum of pediatric COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia.

Settings And Design: A multicenter, retrospective, cross-sectional study involving pediatric COVID-19 patients across all Saudi regions.

Municipal wastewater viral pollution in Saudi Arabia: effect of hot climate on COVID-19 disease spreading.

The viral RNA of SARS-Coronavirus-2 is known to be contaminating municipal wastewater. We aimed to assess if COVID-19 disease is spreading through wastewater. We studied the amount of viral RNA in raw sewage and the efficiency of the sewage treatment to remove the virus.

The risk of coronavirus to healthcare providers during aerosol-generating procedures: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Context: Several medical procedures are thought to increase the risk of transmission of infectious agents to health-care providers (HCPs) through an aerosol-generating mechanism.

Aims: Given the significant influenza and coronavirus pandemics that have occurred in the 20 and 21 century, including the current severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 global pandemic, the objective of this analysis is to assess the occurrence of disease transmission to HCPs from the performance aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs).

Settings And Design: This was a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Risk Communication Effectiveness During COVID-19 Pandemic Among General Population in Saudi Arabia.

Purpose: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19), declared a pandemic by WHO in March 2020, is an unprecedented occurrence in our recent history. Effective risk communication by health authorities, through relaying reliable and authoritative information, is imperative in combating the spread of the outbreak. We aimed to measure the effectiveness of risk communication campaign and overall awareness during COVID-19 pandemic among the general population in Saudi Arabia.

Guidance for Health Risk Assessment at Recurrent Mass Gatherings: The Jeddah Tool Framework.

A wide range of natural and man-made hazards increases the health risks at mass gatherings (MGs). Building on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) developed the Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (H-EDRM) framework to strengthen preparedness, response, and recovery from health emergencies in the communities and emergency-prone settings, such as MGs. The Jeddah tool is derived from the H-EDRM framework as an all-hazard MG risk assessment tool, which provides a benchmark for monitoring progress made in capacity strengthening over a given period for recurrent MGs.

Controlling COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mass Screening Experience in Saudi Arabia.

A highly accelerating number of people around the world have been infected with novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Mass screening programs were suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an effective precautionary measure to contain the spread of the virus. On 16 April 2020, a COVID-19 mass screening program was initiated in Saudi Arabia in multiple phases.

Adherence of Healthcare Workers to Saudi Management Guidelines of Heat-Related Illnesses during Hajj Pilgrimage.

Heat-related illnesses (HRIs), such as heatstroke (HS) and heat exhaustion (HE), are common complications during Hajj pilgrims. The Saudi Ministry of Health (MoH) developed guidelines on the management of HRIs to ensure the safety of all pilgrims. This study aimed to assess healthcare workers' (HCWs) adherence to the updated national guidelines regarding pre-hospital and in-hospital management of HRIs.

Implementing the Health Early Warning System based on syndromic and event-based surveillance at the 2019 Hajj.

Background: During the 2019 Hajj, the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia implemented for the first time a health early warning system for rapid detection and response to health threats.

Aims: This study aimed to describe the early warning findings at the Hajj to highlight the pattern of health risks and the potential benefits of the disease surveillance system.

Methods: Using syndromic surveillance and event-based surveillance data, the health early warning system generated automated alarms for public health events, triggered alerts for rapid epidemiological investigations and facilitated the monitoring of health events.

Erratum: Khan, A.A., et al. Survival and Estimation of Direct Medical Costs of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Short Title: COVID-19 Survival and Cost in Saudi Arabia). 2020, , 7458.

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COVID-19 Mitigation Plans During Hajj 2020: A Success Story of Zero Cases.

The Hajj pilgrimage, held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is among the largest mass gatherings in the world. More than 2.5 million Muslim pilgrims assemble from over 180 countries worldwide to perform Hajj.

Risk factors associated with worse outcomes in COVID-19: a retrospective study in Saudi Arabia.

Background: The rapid emergence of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in millions of infected patients and hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide. Health care services delivery is being compromised due to the surge in the number of infected patients during this pandemic.

Aims: This study aimed to assess the risk factors associated with poor prognosis among COVID-19 patients in Saudi Arabia.

Survival and Estimation of Direct Medical Costs of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: Assess the survival of hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients across age groups, sex, use of mechanical ventilators (MVs), nationality, and intensive care unit (ICU) admission in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Methods: Data were retrieved from the Saudi Ministry of Health (MoH) between 1 March and 29 May 2020. Kaplan-Meier (KM) analyses and multiple Cox proportional-hazards regression were conducted to assess the survival of hospitalized COVID-19 patients from hospital admission to discharge (censored) or death.

Meningococcal disease surveillance in the Asia-Pacific region (2020): The global meningococcal initiative.

The degree of surveillance data and control strategies for invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) varies across the Asia-Pacific region. IMD cases are often reported throughout the region, but the disease is not notifiable in some countries, including Myanmar, Bangladesh and Malaysia. Although there remains a paucity of data from many countries, specific nations have introduced additional surveillance measures.

Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia: A national retrospective study.

Background: The global battle to contain the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic rages on. Previous studies described the clinical characteristics of COVID-19, but knowledge gaps remain in the Middle East region. Identifying these features will help in mapping the disease and guiding pandemic management.

Health risk assessment at mass gatherings: a report of the camel festival in Saudi Arabia.

Background: The King Abdel Aziz Camel Festival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, aims to showcase the socio-cultural and economic roles of camels in the Middle East, and attracts visitors from many countries in the Region.

Aims: Potentially, the gathering of large numbers of people and animals within a specified geographical area during the annual festival has important implications for public safety, health security and legacy. Thus, the Ministry of Health through the Global Center for Mass Gathering Medicine, Saudi Arabia, conducted a health risk assessment for the 2017 Camel Festival.