Background Vaccines remain one of the most effective methods to control infectious diseases; however, COVID-19 vaccines are challenging and novel. Vaccine support is still substantial in general, although vaccination fear has increased dramatically in recent decades. This is the first study aimed to determine the fear of the COVID-19 vaccination and the role of factors and reasons associated with fear in the Iraqi Kurdistan region. Results A total of 1188 participants responded to the questionnaire about their fears of the COVID-19 vaccine. The majority of participants had a medium level of fear (56.7%). Fear was significantly (p < 0.001) associated with major demographic characteristics, social media use (51.8%), and losing family members, while other variables (previous seasonal influenza vaccine, previous infection, chronic medical diseases) show no relationship. Fear of side effects such as blood clotting was reported by the majority (45.03%) and indicated positive relation (p < 0.016). On the other hand, a high proportion, 39.9% and 34.01%, were afraid of AstraZeneca and Pfizer (p < 0.001), respectively; however, only about 4.63% had fear of Sinopharm. Conclusions The fear of COVID-19 vaccination was widespread in the Iraqi Kurdistan region. In this way, fear was related to significant variables. To reduce the fear of vaccines and increase public acceptance, authorities and the Ministry of Health should initiate a public awareness campaign. As a result, the public health crisis will significantly improve.

Covid-19 considered as a pandemic disease and spread very rapidly, the people are needed to respond to this danger situation without becoming complacent because still there is no vaccine for it. The sample of this cross - sectional descriptive study was consisted of 1250 Kurdish male and female, their ages ranged between 14- 76 years. The main objective of the study is conducted to assess the people’s knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP study) toward COVID-19. The data were collected during the period of April 4 up to June 2020. A self- constructed questionnaire was used for data collection and it was designed according guidelines, literatures, and articles concerning COVID-19; which consisted of 40 variables. The researchers made google form for the questionnaire and distributed by local residents of Kurdistan region. Relying on the authors’ networks, and sent by (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram). Therefore, the data analyzed through the using of the (SPSS, version 23). A p value of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The findings of the current study concluded that the main way for obtaining knowledge of the participants was social media and it was much more than ministry of health, WHO and CDC together. Also, the study indicated that the age group of 21-30 years old has a high score of knowledge and attitude while the age group of 31-40 years old has a high score of practical issues regarding COVID-19. As well as, the female employer by Bachelor degree with barely sufficient financial status in urban area had a high score of KAP concerning COVID-19, lastly the present study observed a strong positive correlation between KAP toward coronavirus among the participants. The study recommended to ministry of health and health sectors to present much more scientific healthy issues to improve the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the Kurdish citizens concerning coronavirus because the health care workers are much more dependable scientifically than social media toward COVID-19 to prevent rapid transmission and control this serious situation.

Background: The older population is often disproportionately and adversely affected during humanitarian emergencies, as has also been seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data regarding COVID-19 in older adults is usually over-generalized and does not delve into details of the clinical characteristics in them. This study was conducted to analyze clinical and laboratory characteristics, risk factors, and complications of COVID-19 between older adults who survived and those who did not. Methods: We conducted a case-control study among older adults(age> 60 years) admitted to the Intensive Care Unit(ICU) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The non-survivors(cases) were matched with age and sex-matched survivors (control) in a ratio of 1: 3. The data regarding socio-demographics, clinical characteristics, complications, treatment, laboratory data, and outcomes were analyzed. Results: The most common signs and symptoms observed were fever (cases vs controls)(68.92 vs. 68.8%), followed by shortness of breath (62.2% Vs. 52.2%), and cough(47.3% Vs. 60.2%). Our analysis found no association between the presence of any of the comorbidities and mortality. At admission, laboratory markers such as LDH(Lactate Dehydrogenase), WBC(White Blood Count), creatinine, CRP(C-Reactive Protein), D-dimer, ferritin, and IL-6 were found to be significantly higher among the cases than among the controls. Complications such as the development of seizure, bacteremia, acute renal injury, respiratory failure, and septic shock were seen to have a significant association with non-survivors. Conclusions: Hypoxia, tachycardia, and tachypnoea at presentation were associated with higher mortality. The older adults in this study mostly presented with the typical clinical features of COVID-19 pneumonia. The presence of comorbid-illnesses among them did not affect mortality. Higher death was seen among those with higher levels of CRP, LDH, D-dimer, and ferritin; and with lower lymphocyte counts.