1,721,040 research outputs found
Face masks for all and all for face masks in the covid-19 pandemic: community level production to face the global shortage and shorten the epidemic
Full text linkThe current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused a global shortage of medical masks, leaving most exposed health personnel without appropriate protection.
Since the beginning of the outbreak, the World Health Organization WHO) has revised several times the recommendations on general use of facemasks. Until recently, WHO recommended to limit the use of facemasks to symptomatic people and advised against off-standard solutions. Moreover, recommenda- tions differ among and within countries, causing public confusion and individual initiative.
There is wide consensus that universal appropriate use of masks may contribute both to contain the epidemic and to reduce the burden on national procurement, if a community production approach is followed. Especially in low-middle income countries, due to the scarce capacity of national industrial production or import, the use of masks produced at community level may become the only viable option. For the purpose ad hoc guidelines will be needed.
Current knowledge and experience call for further and updated review of global and national guidelines to provide clear and consistent criteria to ensure the widest availability and appropriate use of facial protection, bearing in mind populations in socio-economic disadvantaged settings
Che cosa possiamo imparare dalla gestione della comunicazione istituzionale durante l'emergenza Covid-19?
No full textCommunication during health emergencies has a crucial role for the effectiveness of the measures implemented. International Health Regulations, as well as the Italian National Prevention Plan, identify risk communication as one of the fundamental capacities to strengthen detection and response systems for threats to public health. The Covid-19 pandemic involved a number of actors in the emergency communication. In Italy, the management of institutional communication has been characterized by fragmented and disjointed messages. There are multiple lessons learned from the Covid-19 emergency, including: the need of an accurate, coordinated and inclusive communication plan; and the integration of communication tools
COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage in Italy: How Many Hospitalisations and Related Costs Could Have Been Saved If We Were All Vaccinated?
Full text linkThe first cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection were reported in December 2019. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic (1). By the end of 2021, COVID-19 has caused 5.4 million deaths worldwide, impacting severely on health systems and triggering a global economic and social crisis.
On November 24, 2021, Europe is once again the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic (2), with 75% of fatal cases occurring in people aged 65 years and above, and hospital admission rates more than doubling in 1 week, according to the latest data (2). The reasons behind this increase are mainly insufficient vaccination coverage and relaxation of public health and social measures (2).
Vaccination has been shown to be 70–95% effective against COVID-19 after two doses and against COVID-19-related hospital admissions up to 6 months after being fully vaccinated (3–5) and is considered one of the most cost-effective interventions to preserve healthcare resources and system efficiency (6). Yet, vaccination coverage within Europe is still suboptimal (2).
As of November 24, 2021, Italy has administered 95,571,957 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, with an 84.5% coverage of fully vaccinated population over 12 years old, and 87.3% with at least one dose (7). Four different vaccines (Cominarty, Spikevax, Vaxzevria, and Janssen) have been administered since December 27, 2020. Up until September 26, 2021, 71.2% of administered doses were Cominarty, 14.5% were Vaxzevria, 12.5% were Spikevax, and 1.8% were Janssen (8). Since September 27, 2021, the booster dose, administered right after the date of vaccination only of Cominarty and Spikevax, as well as the second dose of Janssen, was initially indicated only for people aged over 80 years, as well as residents and staff of nursing homes and healthcare facilities. It was subsequently extended to all subjects vaccinated with a single dose of Janssen vaccine from at least 6 months, regardless of age, and has now been extended to the whole over-18 population, provided a minimum of 5 months have passed since the completion of the primary course with two doses (9–11). Despite these efforts and the establishment of a COVID-19 Green Pass, which allows access to public events, transportations, and nursing homes only to vaccinated people or people tested for SARS-CoV-2 (12), trends of hospital admissions due to COVID-19 are rising, particularly among the non-vaccinated who amount to 8 million people. Indeed, as of November 24, 2021, data provided by the Italian National Health Institute (ISS) show an increased risk of hospital admission and death for the non-vaccinated population in all age groups, with new cases primarily caused by the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant of SARS-CoV-2 (13). In the light of this situation, the Italian Ministry of Health (MoH) instituted a reinforced COVID-19 Green Pass that allowed only people who are fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 to access shows, sporting events, indoor bars and restaurants, parties and discos, public ceremonies for the period December 6, 2021 to January 15, 2022 in the Italian white zones, and from November 29, 2021 to the end of the state of emergency in the yellow and orange zones (14). Moreover, mandatory vaccination has been extended to new categories (e.g., school and police personnel) and the validity of the COVID-19 Green Pass has been reduced from 12 to 9 months (14).
Using the official data from ISS for the period October 24-November 24, 2021, on vaccination status, new positives, hospitalisations in general wards and intensive care units, this brief report aims to: (i) to assess the risks of hospital admission for different age groups ≥12 years of age, and by vaccination status; (ii) to calculate the costs of vaccine refusal during the observation period.
The costs of excess cases due to vaccine refusal were calculated only for hospitalization. Neither the direct and indirect costs of non-hospitalized cases nor the cost of deaths, which however we believe to be significant, were factored into the calculation
COVID-19: universal health coverage now more than ever
No full textThe viewpoint emphasizes the importance of UHC during a pandemic. It examines the respones of the Italian National Health Service to the Covid-19 epidemi
The Italian health system and the COVID-19 challenge
No full textThe article illustrates the response of the Italian Health System to the COvid-19 epidemic challeng
The traffic light approach: indicators and algorithms to identify Covid-19 epidemic risk across Italian regions
Full text linkWith the beginning of the autumn-winter season, Italy experienced an increase of SARS-CoV-2 cases, requiring the Government to adopt new restrictive measures. The national surveillance system in place defines 21 key process and performance indicators addressing for each Region/Autonomous Province: (i) the monitoring capacity, (ii) the degree of diagnostic capability, investigation and contact tracing, and (iii) the characteristics of the transmission dynamics as well as the resilience of health services. Overall, the traffic light approach shows a collective effort by the Italian Government to define strategies to both contain the spread of COVID-19 and to minimize the economic and social impact of the epidemic. Nonetheless, on what principles color-labeled risk levels are assigned on a regional level, it remains rather unclear or difficult to track
Hazard prevention, death and dignity during COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
Full text linkOn 9 March 2020, Italy passed the Prime Minister's Decree n. 648, establishing urgent measures to contain the transmission of COVID-19 and prevent biological hazards, including very restrictive interventions on public Holy Masses and funerals. Italy banned burial procedures based (i) on the recent acknowledgment about the virus environmental stability as well as (ii) its national civil contingency plan. Hence, only the cremation process is admitted for COVID-19 deaths. Viewing of the body is permitted only for mourners, which are allowed to perform the prayer at the closing of the coffin and the prayer at the tomb (cf. Rite of Succession, first part n. 3 and n. 5). The dead cannot be buried in their personal clothes; however, priests have been authorized to put the family clothes on top of the corpse, as if they were dressed. Burying personal items is also illegal. The dignity of the dead, their cultural and religious traditions, and their families should be always respected and protected. Among all the threats, COVID-19 epidemic in Italy revealed the fragility of human beings under enforced isolation and, for the first time, the painful deprivation of families to accompany their loved ones to the last farewell. Ethics poses new challenges in times of epidemics
Vaccines hesitancy in Africa: how COVID-19 pandemic may affect malaria vaccination campaigns
Full text linkThe extent and possible reasons for vaccine hesistancy in the African continent is explored, with particular regard to malaria and Covid-19 vaccine
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