Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel zoonotic coronavirus that emerged from Wuhan, China. Development of SARS-CoV-2 specific vaccine is considered as the only solution that could control this pandemic. However, the success of COVID-19 vaccination programme will be dependent on the development of effective and safer vaccines and also on the public acceptance which in turn reliant on the beliefs and perception towards the vaccine. Therefore, this study was aimed to analyse the beliefs and barriers associated with COVID-19 vaccination among the general population in India. The study conducted using an online self-administered questionnaire that was distributed among the general population of India during the month of October 2020. The online questionnaire addressed several variables including the socio-demographic parameters, beliefs toward COVID-19 vaccine/vaccination, COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, potential barriers that may prevent from being vaccinated and factors that can improve COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Among the 351 participants, 55% believed that the COVID-19 vaccination will be safe while only 46.2% believed that it will be effective. Majority of the participants (86.3%) were planning to get COVID-19 vaccination, whereas 13.7% admitted hesitancy. However, only 65.8% of the participants responded that they will receive vaccination as soon as possible whenever the vaccine is available. The study also identified that the concerns regarding the vaccine side effects acted as the key barrier for vaccine acceptance. The major findings of this study can be utilized in planning vaccination campaigns. Furthermore, the level of vaccine acceptance can be increased within the population if additional studies can confirm the safety and effectiveness of available vaccine candidates.

The people of India have a wide variety of eating habits that vary according to ethnicity, geography, and culture. The consumption of meat primarily covers the protein requirement of the Indians, and three out of four are non-vegetarians. There is a need to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated countrywide lockdown on the meat consumption pattern of the Indian non-vegetarians. A countrywide survey was conducted among the consumers to study the impact of COVID-19 on the meat consumption pattern using a self-administered electronic questionnaire distributed through emails and online social networking platforms. A total of 416 responses were collected from the consumers belonging to different states and union territories. The data were analyzed as per the standard procedure. The meat consumption pattern of the non-vegetarians was found to be altered during the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown period. The majority of the consumers could not obtain a sufficient quantity of meat and meat products during the lockdown period due to various reasons such as the increased cost and decreased availability of livestock. The myths and rumors associated with meat consumption and the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 further weakened the meat trade in certain areas. Based on the findings of this survey, it is safe to confirm that the meat consumption pattern among Indian consumers was affected badly during the countrywide lockdown.

Immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella-zoster viruses (VZV; MMRV) is a common condition of employment for health care workers (HCWs) to ensure compliance with national standards and state laws. When documentation of complete vaccination or laboratory-confirmed infection is not available, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) criteria are used to guide vaccination or anti-MMRV IgG testing. We assessed the performance of the BioPlex 2200 MMRV IgG multiplex flow immunoassay (MFI; Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA) and matched immunofluorescence assays (IFAs; MBL Bion, Des Plaines, IL) in 220 HCWs categorized by ACIP criteria for presumptive immunity to MMRV. Among HCWs presumptively immune to measles, mumps, rubella, and VZV, the Bio-Rad MFI was positive in 77.3, 85.4, 84.3, and 91.1% of HCWs, respectively. Comparatively, the Bion IFA was positive in 92.9, 91.1, and 93.5% of HCWs presumptively immune to measles, mumps, and VZV (a rubella IFA was unavailable). Among HCWs fully vaccinated against measles, mumps, and VZV, Bio-Rad MFI/Bion IFA positivity rates were 77.4%/93%, 84.8%/90.7%, and 54.5%/90.9%, respectively. The Bio-Rad MFI was positive in 83.7% of HCWs fully vaccinated against rubella. For HCWs whose last vaccination event occurred within 15 years of enrollment, 83.3, 93.3, and 74.2% were positive by the Bio-Rad measles, mumps, and rubella IgG MFIs, respectively. We show significantly decreased Bio-Rad MFI sensitivity for detection of anti-measles and anti-mumps IgG-class antibodies in presumptively immune or fully vaccinated HCWs. Although negative results typically prompt revaccination, failure to recognize presumptive immunity in individuals unable to receive live, attenuated vaccines may have employment implications.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has created an opportunity to rethink and rectify the existing loopholes in the global food production system. The continuing ‘illegal’ attacks of human being over the environment for decades has taken a turn back in the form of a novel pandemic virus. This is not the first time we are facing a setback due to our invalid and primitive food habits that has been followed by certain sections of the society in different parts of the globe. Considering the current scenario, it is necessary to update our food habits and food culture as it is the need of the time. Although several studies have proven the persistence of viral particles on the surface materials that are routinely used in the food production systems. Further studies are required to explore the possibilities of SARS-CoV-2 transmission via food and food packaging materials. Although the pandemic has created a bit of awareness among the people, further campaigning is required to achieve an effective food safety system. The strict implementation of FSMS (food safety management systems) such as GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices), HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is advised for improving the food supply chain. Besides these, proper cleaning and sanitization, GHP (Good Hygienic Practices), and efficient packaging systems are also necessary to generate wholesome food from farm to fork.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), first reported in people exposed to a local seafood wholesale market in Wuhan, China has already affected more than 76 million people around the globe resulting in the death of nearly 1.7 million people as of December 21, 2020. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can potentially infect other animal species owing to the superior host adaptability. Sporadic cases of natural SARS-CoV-2 infections have been reported in dogs, cats, lion, puma, and tiger while experimental inoculation in several other susceptible animal species resulted in infection. Although, bats are considered the reservoir host for SARS-CoV-2, pangolins, a wild mammal of order Pholidota, is suspected to be the missing link that contributed to transmitting the virus to human beings due to its wide consumption in the Chinese culinary practice. Unconventional meat is consumed in a large quantity all around the world since it acts as a ‘low cost’ or ‘costless’ nutritional source in underdeveloped countries. However, in certain communities, geographies, and niches of the globe, meat from wild and other free-ranging mammals, rodents, and reptiles are used as delicacies. The overexploitation of these ‘unconventional meat animals’ for various reasons threatened biodiversity and contributed to the emergence of novel diseases having significant public health implications. With the swift emergence of SARS-CoV-2, humans have recognized the important role played by wildlife and their ecosystem in the emergence of novel infections. The interface between human and wild animals is considered the hotspot that facilitate cross-species jumping and disease spillover. Establishing an efficient surveillance system at a potential human-animal interface can limit the spread of novel zoonotic diseases such as COVID-19.