The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) booster dose vaccination after completing the primary vaccination series for individuals ≥18 years and most-at-risk populations. This study aimed to estimate the pooled proportion of COVID-19 vaccine booster dose uptake and intention to get the booster dose among general populations and healthcare workers (HCWs). We searched PsycINFO, Scopus, EBSCO, MEDLINE Central/PubMed, ProQuest, SciELO, SAGE, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect according to PRISMA guidelines. From a total of 1079 screened records, 50 studies were extracted. Meta-analysis was conducted using 48 high-quality studies according to the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale quality assessment tool. Using the 48 included studies, the pooled proportion of COVID-19 vaccine booster dose acceptance among 198,831 subjects was 81% (95% confidence interval (CI): 75–85%, I² = 100%). The actual uptake of the booster dose in eight studies involving 12,995 subjects was 31% (95% CI: 19–46%, I² = 100%), while the intention to have the booster dose of the vaccine was 79% (95% CI: 72–85%, I² = 100%). The acceptance of the booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines among HCWs was 66% (95% CI: 58–74%), I² = 99%). Meta-regression revealed that previous COVID-19 infection was associated with a lower intention to have the booster dose. Conversely, previous COVID-19 infection was associated with a significantly higher level of booster dose actual uptake. The pooled booster dose acceptance in the WHO region of the Americas, which did not include any actual vaccination, was 77% (95% CI: 66–85%, I² = 100%). The pooled acceptance of the booster dose in the Western Pacific was 89% (95% CI: 84–92%, I² = 100), followed by the European region: 86% (95% CI: 81–90%, I² = 99%), the Eastern Mediterranean region: 59% (95% CI: 46–71%, I² = 99%), and the Southeast Asian region: 52% (95% CI: 43–61%, I² = 95). Having chronic disease and trust in the vaccine effectiveness were the significant predictors of booster dose COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. The global acceptance rate of COVID-19 booster vaccine is high, but the rates vary by region. To achieve herd immunity for the disease, a high level of vaccination acceptance is required. Intensive vaccination campaigns and programs are still needed around the world to raise public awareness regarding the importance of accepting COVID-19 vaccines needed for proper control of the pandemic.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic clinical condition characterized by arthritic features in children under the age of 16, with at least 6 weeks of active symptoms. The etiology of JIA remains unknown, and it is associated with prolonged synovial inflammation and structural joint damage influenced by environmental and genetic factors. This review aims to enhance the understanding of JIA by comprehensively analyzing relevant literature. The focus lies on current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and investigations into the pathoaetiologies using diverse research modalities, including in vivo animal models and large-scale genome-wide studies. We aim to elucidate the multifactorial nature of JIA with a strong focus towards genetic predilection, while proposing potential strategies to improve therapeutic outcomes and enhance diagnostic risk stratification in light of recent advancements. This review underscores the need for further research due to the idiopathic nature of JIA, its heterogeneous phenotype, and the challenges associated with biomarkers and diagnostic criteria. Ultimately, this contribution seeks to advance the knowledge and promote effective management strategies in JIA.

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Background: According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2019, around 32,000 deaths in addition 2.8 million infections occur annually in the US because of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and study pattern of antibiotic use and resistance among Iraqi patients. Methodology: We carried out a cross-sectional study from January 2021 to October 2022 including data of 850 patients at different private and general hospitals, primary health centers, and private clinics. The data was collected during the patient’s admission or visiting time using medical records and mini-interviews. Results: Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were the most detected pathogens in our sample in 14.5% and 11.29% of the patients respectively. Most patients (87.18%) had taken over-the-counter antibiotics previously. Around 55% of the antibiotics that were tested were resisted among our patients who were included in 2021. This percentage has increased to about 75% of the included patients in 2022. Amoxicillin was the most resistant antibiotic (77%) in our sample while meropenem was the least resistant among the tested antibiotic (5%). Conclusion: Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern that is often caused by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, as well as poor infection control practices. Keywords: Antibiotic; resistance; Iraq.