Infodemics and Infodemiology: A Short History, a Long Future

This paper describes the characteristics of an infodemic, which combines an inordinately high volume of information (leading to problems relating to locating the information, storage capacity, ensuring quality, visibility and validity) and rapid output (making it hard to assess its value, manage the gatekeeping process, apply results, track its history, and leading to a waste of effort).

This is bound up with the collateral growth of misinformation, disinformation and malinformation. Solutions to the problems posed by an infodemic will be sought in improved technology and changed social and regulatory frameworks.

One solution could be a new trusted top-level domain for health information. The World Health Organization has so far made two unsuccessful attempts to create such a domain, but it is suggested this could be attempted again, in the light of the COVID-19 infodemic experience. The vital role of reliable information in public health should also be explicitly recognized in the Sustainable Development Goals, with explicit targets. All countries should develop knowledge preparedness plans for future emergencies.

Source: Infodemics and Infodemiology: A Short History, a Long Future

    Views 840

    Priorities for COVID-19 Research Response and Preparedness in Low-resource Settings

    COVID-19 poses particular threats in low-resource settings, which typically have underfunded health-care systems and insufficient influence on the global health research agenda.

    Strengthening research capacity must be embedded in research funding across LMICs to support the COVID-19 response now and to prepare to manage future infectious disease threats effectively. Such programmes need to be informed by local contexts and be driven by regionally and nationally identified priorities. Lessons learned in LMICs have global relevance and require global attention.

    Increased research coordination is needed to improve the coherence of the research response affecting LMICs.

    Source: Priorities for COVID-19 Research Response and Preparedness in Low-resource Settings

      Views 469

      Can Technology Increase COVID-19 Vaccination Rates?

      The WHO Digital Health Flagship initiative has stated that digital technology could play a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic by improving communications between people and health services, empowering individuals and patients, and strengthening critical public health functions including disease surveillance. The authors of this article ask whether technology also help build trust and promote vaccination within communities that are most at risk.

      Source: Can Technology Increase COVID-19 Vaccination Rates?

        Views 507

        Why Vaccine Inequality is our Biggest COVID-19 Communication Challenge Yet

        This paper explores the global south’s inequity of access to COVID-19 vaccines and related communication challenges. The paper also questions how we can split our focus to, on one hand, engage with communities to ensure they understand how vaccine prioritization will be made, to also then manage expectations of access, while still addressing the perception that the pandemic is over when vaccination begins.

        Source: Why Vaccine Inequality is our Biggest COVID-19 Communication Challenge Yet

          Views 789

          Gender Implications for Extension and Advisory Services during COVID-19

          The social impacts of COVID-19 have important implications to food security and, like many other social and environmental calamities, are not gender or spatially neutral. In many regions across the world, deep-rooted gender norms that devalue women’s unpaid domestic labor burdens also marginalize the health, nutrition, and decision-making power of women and girls.

          This post highlights specific gaps in the ability of extension and advisory services (EAS) to address the needs of rural farmers, specifically women, that are increased during emergencies. For example, globally, women report lower access to extension services, as well as information and communication technology devices (radios, cell phones), risk-sharing networks outside of their communities (village savings and loan groups), household power to make decisions, and time to allocate to innovative and adaptive agricultural solutions. In addition, this post addresses the risks that such gender and place-based gaps present to rural food security and social stability, specifically in low- and middle-income countries.

          Source: Gender Implications for Extension and Advisory Services during COVID-19

            Views 769

            An Uncertain Public — Encouraging Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccines

            To understand public attitudes toward taking a COVID-19 vaccine and the factors likely to affect willingness to do so going forward, the authors examined 39 nationally representative, randomized polls with publicly available tabulations that were conducted between August 2020 and February 2021.

            Source: An Uncertain Public — Encouraging Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccines

              Views 437

              Community Health Worker Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices towards COVID-19: Learnings from an Online Cross-sectional Survey using a Digital Health Platform, UpSCALE, in Mozambique

              This article discusses a Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) survey concerning Mozambique Community Health Workers’ knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms, transmission routes and appropriate mitigation measures. The results from the survey were used to develop COVID-19 awareness and education materials.

              Source: Community Health Worker Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices towards COVID-19: Learnings from an Online Cross-sectional Survey using a Digital Health Platform, UpSCALE, in Mozambique

                Views 709

                Orientation to National Deployment and Vaccination Planning for COVID-19 Vaccines

                This online course is intended to support national and sub-national focal points in preparing for COVID-19 vaccination. It provides an overview of key aspects of the guidance on developing a national deployment and vaccination plan for COVID-19 vaccines and highlights available and upcoming resources for COVID-19 vaccine introduction.

                Source: Orientation to National Deployment and Vaccination Planning for COVID-19 Vaccines

                  Views 533

                  Critical Observations on and Suggested Ways Forward for Healthcare Communication during COVID-19: pEACH Position Paper

                  This is a position paper that presents observations relating to policy and practice in communication in healthcare related to COVID-19. The authors state that communication in healthcare and COVID-19 have a mutually influential relationship that is informed by policy and has influenced practice. The fast pace at which policies have been developed for and practice has adapted to COVID-19 necessitates critical reflection.

                  Evidence-based guidance for communication in healthcare in COVID-19 is central to shaping approaches to public health communication. Evidence-based guidance is also necessary for the challenges faced in communicating with patients, their families, and carers during COVID-19.

                  This paper provides a summary of the key areas for development in communication in healthcare during COVID-19. It offers recommendations for improvement and a call to review policies and practice to build resilience and inclusive and equitable responsiveness in communication in healthcare.

                  Source: Critical Observations on and Suggested Ways Forward for Healthcare Communication during COVID-19: pEACH Position Paper

                    Views 746

                    Guidance on Developing a National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19 Vaccines

                    This book, and its accompanying orientation course is intended to support national and sub-national focal points in preparing for COVID-19 vaccination. It provides an overview of key aspects of the guidance on developing a national deployment and vaccination plan for COVID-19 vaccines and highlights available and upcoming resources for COVID-19 vaccine introduction.

                    Source: Guidance on Developing a National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19 Vaccines

                      Views 618