The influence of COVID-19 risk perception and vaccination status on the number of social contacts across Europe: insights from the CoMix study

BMC Public Health, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 23(1)

Published: July 13, 2023

The SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics have been greatly modulated by human contact behaviour. To curb the spread of virus, global efforts focused on implementing both Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) and pharmaceutical interventions such as vaccination. This study was conducted to explore influence COVID-19 vaccination status risk perceptions related number social contacts individuals in 16 European countries.

Language: Английский

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Repetition in social contacts: implications in modelling the transmission of respiratory infectious diseases in pre-pandemic and pandemic settings

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 291(2027)

Published: July 23, 2024

The spread of viral respiratory infections is intricately linked to human interactions, and this relationship can be characterized modelled using social contact data. However, many analyses tend overlook the recurrent nature these contacts. To bridge gap, we undertake task describing individuals' patterns over time by characterizing interactions made with distinct individuals during a week. Moreover, gauge implications temporal reconstruction on disease transmission juxtaposing it assumption random mixing time. This involves development an age-structured individual-based model, data from pre-pandemic scenario (the POLYMOD study) pandemic setting Belgian CoMix study), respectively. We found that accounting for frequency contacts impacts number new, distinct, contacts, revealing lower total count than naive approach, where repetition neglected. As consequence, failing account result in underestimation probability given contact, potentially leading inaccurate conclusions when mathematical models control. We, therefore, underscore necessity acknowledging formulating effective public health strategies.

Language: Английский

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Repetition in Social Contact Interactions: Implications in Modelling the Transmission of Respiratory Infectious Diseases in Pre-pandemic & Pandemic Settings

medRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 9, 2024

Abstract The spread of viral respiratory infections is intricately linked to human interactions, and this relationship can be characterised modelled using social contact data. However, many analyses tend overlook the recurrent nature these contacts. To bridge gap, we undertake task describing individuals’ patterns over time, by characterising interactions made with distinct individuals during a week. Moreover, gauge implications temporal reconstruction on disease transmission juxtaposing it assumption random mixing time. This involves development an age-structured individual-based model, utilising data from pre-pandemic scenario (the POLYMOD study) pandemic setting Belgian CoMix study), respectively. We found that accounting for frequency contacts impacts number new, distinct, contacts, revealing lower total count than naive approach, where repetition neglected. As consequence, failing account result in underestimation probability given contact, potentially leading inaccurate conclusions when mathematical models control. therefore underscore necessity acknowledging longitudinal formulating effective public health strategies.

Language: Английский

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Quantifying social contact dynamics in South Korea in the post-COVID-19 endemic phase: a cross-sectional survey for infectious disease transmission

Journal of Infection and Public Health, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 18(6), P. 102725 - 102725

Published: Feb. 28, 2025

Understanding the dynamics of social contact patterns is crucial for modeling spread infectious diseases. Although previous studies have examined them globally, how relevant they are to in endemic phase still unclear. South Korea's distinct cultural norms, aging population, and declining fertility highlight critical need new, context-specific data. Here, we aim conduct a survey Korea, providing age location-specific estimates quantifying related disease transmission. We conducted cross-sectional Korea from July 6 September 5, 2023. Participants all ages were recruited using quota sampling based on 2023 census, with only one individual per household included. Social contacts, both physical non-physical, recorded through 24-hour diary. The data analyzed negative binomial regression model. Age-specific matrices constructed census-based weights, uncertainty assessed bootstrapping. A total 1493 participants (740 males 753 females) reported 14,187 an average 9.2 daily contacts (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 8.7-9.8). Contacts peaked at 17.8 CI: 14.6-21.5) among children aged 5-9 lowest 3.5 2.6-4.5) those 75 above. Children teenagers had higher rate peer-group contact, most occurring workplaces or educational institutions. level family increased across groups. identified such as high interactions within peer groups, which suggest school-based vaccination programs, family-centered strategies, workplace infection control measures. These findings provide baseline enhance inform professional public health policy development other contexts.

Language: Английский

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Social contact patterns in South Korea: an analysis of a survey conducted in 2023-2024

BMC Infectious Diseases, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 25(1)

Published: March 1, 2025

Abstract Background Understanding social contact patterns is fundamental to the study of infectious disease transmission. However, in South Korea, detailed data have not been publicly available. While global research on has expanded, there remains a critical need for more context-specific Korea. Methods We conducted survey over two distinct weeks covering various time periods, including school vacations and national holidays. Participants provided details such as location, duration, frequency, type close contact, well information person’s age, sex, residential area relationship with participant. analyzed using summary statistics Bayesian linear mixed model. Results A total 1,987 participants recorded 133,776 contacts weeks, averaging 4.81 per participant day. The average number day varied by household size, period. Contacts were highest age group 5-19, lowest 20-29, then gradually increased up 70+. also size. Weekdays during semester showed contacts, followed weekdays vacations, Lunar New Year holidays, weekends. Contact differed notably period; closed extended family members and, therefore, subnational mixing enhanced. Conclusion Our analyses across different periods revealed significant some unique variations These findings can improve our understanding transmission Korea will be useful tailoring regional epidemiological models.

Language: Английский

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The role of frailty in shaping social contact patterns in Belgium, 2022–2023

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: April 15, 2025

Abstract Social contact data are essential for understanding the spread of respiratory infectious diseases and designing effective prevention strategies. However, many studies often overlook heterogeneity in mixing patterns among older age groups individual frailty levels, assuming homogeneity across these sub-populations. This shortcoming may undermine non-pharmaceutical interventions by not targeting specific behaviours, potentially reducing their effectiveness controlling disease. To address this gap, we conducted a survey Flanders, Belgium (June 2022–June 2023). We collected from 5995 participants (overall response rates 19.34%) who recorded 31,375 contacts with distinct individuals. Within cohort, 14.50% were classified as frail, 46.85% non-frail. On average, report 5.48 daily, median 4 (IQR: 2–7). These vary based on participants’ influenced locations interactions. Using data, reconstructed frailty-dependent matrices developed contact-based mathematical model that integrates contactees’ levels to investigate how affect transmission dynamics. Incorporating into substantially alters shape epidemic curves peak incidences. Such insights might provide useful informing interventions, indicating potential benefit similar collection different countries.

Language: Английский

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Planning for the optimal vaccination sequence in the context of a population-stratified model

Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 92, P. 101847 - 101847

Published: Feb. 23, 2024

Language: Английский

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Assessing the role of children in the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium using perturbation analysis

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(1)

Published: March 5, 2025

Understanding the evolving role of different age groups in virus transmission is essential for effective pandemic management. We investigated SARS-CoV-2 Belgium from November 2020 to February 2022, focusing on age-specific patterns. Using a next generation matrix approach integrating social contact data and simulating population susceptibility evolution, we performed longitudinal perturbation analysis reproduction number unravel dynamics. From December 2020, adults [18, 60) group were main drivers, while children contributed marginally. This pattern shifted between January March 2021, when in-person education resumed, Alpha variant emerged: aged under 12 years old crucial transmission. Stringent distancing measures 2021 helped diminish noticeable contribution 30) group. By June as Delta became predominant strain, 40) emerged contributors transmission, with resurgence children's during September-October 2021. study highlights effectiveness our methodology identifying

Language: Английский

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Modeling the interplay between disease spread, behaviors, and disease perception with a data-driven approach

medRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 12, 2024

Abstract Individuals’ perceptions of disease influence their adherence to preventive measures, shaping the dynamics spread. Despite extensive research on interaction between spread, human behaviors, and interventions, few models have incorporated real-world behavioral data perception, limiting applicability. This study novelly integrates represented by perceived severity, as a critical determinant change into data-driven compartmental model assess its impact Using survey data, we explore scenarios involving competition COVID-19 wave vaccination campaign, where individuals’ behaviors vary based severity disease. Results demonstrate that heterogeneities influenced affect epidemic dynamics, with high heterogeneity yielding contrasting effects. Longer protective measures groups provides greater protection vulnerable individuals, while premature relaxation low facilitates virus Epidemiological curves reveal differences in behavior among can eliminate second infection peak, resulting higher first peak overall more severe outcomes. The specific modeling approach for how modulates parameters does not strongly model’s Sensitivity analyses confirm robustness our findings, emphasizing consistent across various scenarios. Our underscores importance integrating risk perception infectious transmission highlights necessity collection enhance accuracy relevance.

Language: Английский

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Is a tiered restrictions system an effective intervention for COVID-19 control? Results from Portugal, November-December 2020

BMC Public Health, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 24(1)

Published: April 4, 2024

In November 2020, similar to other European countries, Portugal implemented a tiered restrictions system control the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed compare growth rate across tiers assess effect of in Portugal, using models with different times between assessment. Our hypothesis was that being higher tier brings faster deceleration than lower tier.

Language: Английский

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