Lack of knowledge and mistrust towards vaccines represent a challenge in achieving the vaccination coverage required for population immunity. The aim of this study is to examine the opinion that specific demographic groups have about COVID-19 vaccination, in order to detect potential fears and reasons for negative attitudes towards vaccination, and to gain knowledge on how to prepare strategies to eliminate possible misinformation that could affect vaccine hesitancy. The data collection approach was based on online questionnaire surveys, divided into three groups of questions that followed the main postulates of the health belief theory—a theory that helps understanding a behaviour of the public in some concrete surrounding in receiving preventive measures. Ordinary least squares regression analyses were used to examine the influence of individual factors on refusing the vaccine, and to provide information on the perception of participants on the danger of COVID-19 infection, and on potential barriers that could retard the vaccine utility. There was an equal proportion of participants (total number 276) who planned on receiving the COVID-19 vaccine (37%), and of those who did not (36.3%). The rest (26.7%) of participants were still indecisive. Our results indicated that attitudes on whether to receive the vaccine, on how serious consequences might be if getting the infection, as well as a suspicious towards the vaccine efficacy and the fear of the vaccine potential side effects, may depend on participants’ age (40 years) and on whether they are healthcare workers or not. The barriers that make participants‘ unsure about of receiving the vaccine, such as a distrust in the vaccine efficacy and safety, may vary in different socio-demographic groups and depending on which is the point of time in the course of the pandemic development, as well as on the vaccine availability and experience in using certain vaccine formulas. There is a pressing need for health services to continuously provide information to the general population, and to address the root causes of mistrust through improved communication, using a wide range of policies, interventions and technologies.

Stroke remains a major global health challenge due to its high mortality and significant socioeconomic burden. Despite advances in clinical management, effective diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies remain limited. This study aimed to identify and expand the repertoire of biomarkers of damage and repair that could serve as potential diagnostic and prognostic tools across post-stroke phases. Twenty-three male wild-type mice were assigned according to three longitudinal time points to control pre-stroke, 24-hour acute, and 35-day chronic post-stroke groups. Ischemic injury was induced via a 30-minute middle cerebral artery occlusion Koizumi method. Magnetic resonance imaging and neurological scoring were used to assess lesion size and functional deficit acutely, as well as structural and functional recovery during the chronic phase. Proteomic profiling of the ipsilateral and contralateral cortices was performed using data-independent acquisition (DIA)-based MS method. Statistical analysis revealed 74 differentially expressed proteins showing significant temporal changes in expression, which were classified into four temporal expression clusters: acutely and chronically upregulated , acutely upregulated and chronically downregulated , acutely downregulated and chronically upregulated , and acutely and chronically downregulated . Gene ontology analysis identified 47 affected biological processes, including synaptic signaling, immune response, cell-cell communication, cytoskeletal organization, and proliferation. Thirteen proteins previously not associated with stroke pathophysiology were identified, including 10 from the ipsilateral cortex ( Dbi , Cpne3 , Dnm2 , Eef1a1 , Taldo1 , Pgls , Gnb5 , Phf24 , Ctsz , Capg ) and 3 from the contralateral cortex ( Agpat3 , Cacng8 , Endod ). The identified biomarkers provide novel molecular insights into post-stroke energy metabolism, neuroinflammation, and cellular remodeling, highlighting potential targets for further intervention. Graphical Abstract Proteomic analysis of ipsilateral and contralateral mouse cortices post-stroke identified 13 previously unreported proteins, revealing distinct temporal expression patterns linked to tissue damage and repair. These findings highlight potential biomarkers with diagnostic, prognostic, or predictive value for ischemic stroke.