Connect with us

Health

Vaccines For COVID Are Much More Effective Than For Flu – And Reminding People Could Drive Down Hesitancy

Published

on

Vaccines For COVID Are Much More Effective Than For Flu – And Reminding People Could Drive Down Hesitancy


After an incredible start, the UK’s vaccination programme is now slowing down. Over 80 million doses have been administered, but more than 10% of the UK adult population still hasn’t been vaccinated. With COVID-19 cases once again rising, the question of how to boost vaccine uptake among the hesitant is a pressing concern.

Previous research suggests that uptake depends on how threatened people feel by the virus, how effective they believe vaccines are in countering this threat, and the risks they associate with vaccination. Of these, “perceived efficacy” – people’s perception of how protective the vaccine is – may be the best predictor of intentions and decisions to take a COVID-19 vaccine, as we know this strongly influences people’s decisions to take flu vaccines.

So if we can highlight to the public just how effective COVID-19 vaccines are, then more people may choose to get vaccinated. But how can we do this?

Making comparisons

Objectively, the COVID-19 vaccines available in the UK work extremely well. The efficacy of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines – that is, how well they protected people from getting COVID-19 under trial conditions – was 95% and 94% respectively. And in the real world, two doses of either the Pfizer or Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine are over 90% protective against COVID-related hospitalisation when facing the now dominant delta variant.

But it may be important to put this in context for people. These very high numbers can be contrasted with those of more familiar vaccines that have been used for many years. The typical seasonal flu vaccine is estimated to be no more than 60% protective; the mean level of protection offered by the 15 seasonal flu vaccines from 2004-05 to 2018-19 was 40%.  

We reasoned that this contrast could be valuable for the way vaccine messaging is presented. Focusing on how well COVID-19 vaccines work, and the context provided by the lower protection offered by the flu vaccine, may produce a “contrast effect”, amplifying the favourable perception of the COVID-19 vaccine.

To test this idea, we began by screening a sample of 2,400 participants to find people who were somewhat vaccine hesitant. Our research was conducted in December 2020, before COVID-19 vaccines were widely available, so we measured people’s intentions rather than their actual behaviour (previous research has found that a person’s vaccination intention is a strong predictor of whether they go on to take a vaccine).

We asked participants to respond to the statement: “I intend to take a COVID-19 vaccine” on a seven-point scale from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree”. About a quarter of people gave responses in the middle of the scale (“somewhat agree”, “neither agree nor disagree” or “somewhat disagree”). These people are “fence sitters” – unlike anti-vaxxers and COVID-19 deniers, they are concerned about COVID-19 and do not reject all vaccines but remain cautious about COVID-19 vaccines specifically. This group was the focus of our research.

We then recruited 481 people from this vaccine-hesitant group to take part in our experimental survey. Participants were presented with a short text (about 200 words) about COVID-19 vaccines, describing their safety and efficacy and the benefits of widespread uptake. Some participants were presented with extra information that compared the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines with the protection offered by the annual flu vaccine. There was also a control group in which participants were not given any information.

After they read the text, we asked: “If you were offered a COVID-19 vaccine tomorrow, how likely is it that you would take the vaccine?” We also asked about their intentions to take the flu vaccine in the future and their perceptions of how well it worked.

Our results showed that vaccination intentions were 20% higher in the group given information about the safety and efficacy of the new COVID-19 vaccines relative to those shown no information. However, the strongest intentions to take the vaccine were found in the group that was also told that on average the flu vaccine is only 40% protective, but “has prevented millions of infections and saved many thousand lives”.

Here the average intention to take a COVID-19 vaccine was 36% higher than among those not shown any information. In other words, putting the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines in context worked the way we hoped it would. Importantly, this positive contrast effect for the COVID-19 vaccines didn’t appear to lower people’s intentions to take the flu vaccine. 

Vaccine hesitancy is not necessarily irrational. Some people may have reasonable concerns about the remarkable speed at which the COVID-19 vaccines were developed. They may be swayed by reports of a vaccinated person becoming infected, for instance. But such concerns can be addressed by clear, factual messaging.

And part of this messaging could involve explicitly comparing the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines with the more familiar seasonal flu vaccine, for as we have shown, focusing people’s attention on just how well the COVID-19 vaccines work can raise people’s intentions to get vaccinated.

Colin Davis, Chair in Cognitive Psychology, University of Bristol and Ryan McKay, Professor of Psychology, Royal Holloway University of London

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.





Source link

Health

Feeling Tired All The Time? Possible Causes And Solutions

Published

on

tired office worker


Long days of work, lack of sleep, and stress at the office can be the most common factors that make you feel tired. However, feeling “tired all the time” (TATT) without known reasons can be an indication of an underlying health issue that needs immediate attention.

Finding the exact cause of the lingering tiredness can be the first step toward solving the symptom.

Health conditions that cause fatigue:

1. Anemia – Anemia is one of the most common causes of fatigue. A person who has anemia does not have enough red blood cells in the body, causing symptoms such as tiredness, dizziness, feeling cold and crankiness.

Most often, anemia is caused by iron deficiency. Hence, the condition can be best resolved by including iron-rich foods in the diet and use of iron supplements.

2. Sleep Apnea – It causes the body to stop breathing momentarily during sleep. The condition can affect the quality of sleep and hence make you feel fatigued.

For milder cases of sleep apnea, lifestyle changes such as losing weight or quitting smoking can help solve the sleep disorder. In more severe cases where there is an obstruction in breathing, surgeries and therapies can help.

3. Diabetes – A person who has diabetes has changes in blood sugar level, which can cause fatigue. A patient who is already on diabetic medication can also experience tiredness as a side effect of the medication.

Early identification and taking the correct treatment is the key to managing diabetes. Losing extra weight and having a healthy diet also help in the treatment.

4. Thyroid – Thyroid diseases can be due to an overactive or an underactive thyroid gland. In people who have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), the metabolism slows down leading to symptoms such as lethargy and fatigue. In people with an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), the metabolism speeds up leading to fatigue and difficulty sleeping.

Right diet and lifestyle choices, along with medications, can help in thyroid management.

5. Infections – A person can show symptoms of fatigue when the body is fighting a viral or bacterial infection. Infections ranging from the flu to HIV can cause tiredness.

Along with fatigue, other symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, shortness of breath and appetite loss can also accompany the infection. Treating the symptoms and taking adequate rest helps in faster recovery.

6. Food allergies – Fatigue may be an early warning sign of hidden food allergies and autoimmune disorders such as celiac disease. Identifying the allergen using a food allergy test or through an elimination diet can help in allergy treatment.

7. Heart disease – If you feel exhausted from an activity that used to be easy, then it is good to check your heart health, as fatigue can be an indication of underlying heart disease.

8. Depression/ anxiety – Fatigue can also be an indicator of a mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety. A combination of medication and psychotherapy can help relieve symptoms.

Lifestyle causes

Apart from serious health conditions, certain lifestyle habits such as dehydration, poor diet, stress and insufficient sleep can cause exhaustion. Having a well-balanced diet, regular exercise and routine sleep can help solve fatigue caused by lifestyle habits.

Published by Medicaldaily.com



Source link

Continue Reading

Health

How To Overcome Your Sleep Debt And Reclaim Energy

Published

on

woman-2197947_1920


Picture this: you’re burning the midnight oil, studying or binge-watching your favorite shows, all at the expense of a good night’s sleep. Have you ever stopped to think about the toll it takes on your body and mind? The consequences can be more serious than you might realize.

Not getting enough sleep can translate into a multitude of issues, including weight gain, lack of focus, tiredness, a haze of confusion, and even depression. If you too are encountering similar issues lately then chances are you have a sleep debt.

Wondering what is sleep debt?

People from 13-18 years of age need 8 hours of sleep, whilst adults beyond that age will require at least 7 hours of snooze.

Sleep debt is a collection of the total hours you haven’t slept or traded your sleep for something else. Sleep debt keeps piling up as a person falls short of the total hours of sleep recommended for an adult, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

And when you keep letting go of your sleep for other activities, the body adapts to the new normal and effects start to reflect on the energy levels, which deplete.

“However, like every other debt out there, this too has a repayment option,” Dr. Kunal Kumar, medical director of the Sleep Center at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, told Livestrong.

Below are some expert-vetted ways you can pay back the sleep debt. (Courtesy: Livestrong and Sleepfoundation)

Just like financial debt, imagine sleep debt as a debt you owe to your body. It needs to be repaid. The good news is that catching up on sleep is indeed possible.

  • Maintain a set sleep schedule: Overhauling the sleep schedule is a pretty difficult task to achieve, and it’s best to do that gradually. Create a set sleep schedule by making some small changes to your routine. Instead of making abrupt shifts in your bedtime or wake-up time, adjust them gradually by 15 to 30-minute increments.
  • Minimize your gadget usage: Wind down activities and minimize electronic usage before bed to promote better sleep. Relax and prepare for quality sleep by dimming the lights and setting an alarm for 30 minutes to an hour before bed.
  • Reshuffle your sleeping arrangements: Are you finding it hard to get a good night’s sleep due to excessive sweating? Well, here’s a handy solution: consider upgrading to a cooling mattress or opting for cooling sheets. These innovative sleep essentials can help regulate your body temperature, and keep you comfortably cool throughout the night, ensuring a more blissful slumber. Memory foam pillows can work wonders in relieving neck and back discomfort in case you are struggling with backache.
  • Improve the bedroom environment: Create a sleep-friendly bedroom environment by adjusting the temperature for comfort, and blocking out disruptive lights, or noises that might disturb your restful slumber. And if your mattress, pillow, or sheets are worn out or no longer providing the support you need, consider treating yourself to new ones.

Published by Medicaldaily.com



Source link

Continue Reading

Health

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Slow The Progression Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Study

Published

on

walnuts-552975_1920


Omega-3 fatty acids are known for a range of health benefits, from promoting brain and heart health to reducing inflammation and protection against several chronic conditions.

In a new study, researchers found that omega-3 acids, especially the type found in foods like flaxseeds, walnuts, chia seeds, canola oil and soybean oil, can slow down the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

It is a debilitating nervous system disease that gradually worsens over time and can be fatal. The condition results in a loss of muscle control and affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease after the baseball player who was diagnosed with it.

The initial symptoms of the disease include muscle weakness, difficulty in walking and hand movements. The symptoms can slowly progress to difficulties with chewing, swallowing, speaking and breathing.

The exact cause of ALS is not known. However, around 10% of people get it from a risk gene passed down from a family member. It is estimated that more than 32,000 people in the U.S. live with the condition.

In the latest study, researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Massachusetts evaluated 449 people living with ALS in a clinical trial. The team assessed the severity of their symptoms, the progression of their disease, along with the levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood, for 18 months.

The study suggested that alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a type of omega-3 found in plants, is particularly beneficial in slowing the progression of ALS. The participants with the highest levels of ALA had a 50% reduced risk of death during the study period compared to those with the lowest levels of ALA.

Researchers also found a reduction in death risk in participants who had eicosapentaenoic acid, the type of omega-3 fatty acid found in fatty fish and fish oil, and linoleic acid found in vegetable oils, nuts and seeds.

A previous study conducted by the same team suggested that a diet high in ALA and higher blood levels of the nutrient could reduce the risk of developing the condition.

“In this study, we found that among people living with ALS, higher blood levels of ALA were also associated with a slower disease progression and a lower risk of death within the study period. These findings, along with our previous research suggest that this fatty acid may have neuroprotective effects that could benefit people with ALS,” said Kjetil Bjornevik, the lead author of the study.

Published by Medicaldaily.com



Source link

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2021 Vitamin Patches Online.