The risk of developing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) depends on factors related to the host, virus, and treatment. However, many hospitals have modified their existing rooms and adjusted airflow to protect healthcare workers from aerosolization, which may increase the risk of Aspergillus exposure. This study aimed to quantitatively investigate airborne fungal levels in negative and slightly negative pressure rooms for COVID-19 patients. The air in neutral pressure rooms in ordinary wards and a liver intensive care unit with high-efficiency particulate air filter was also assessed for comparison. We found the highest airborne fungal burden in recently renovated slightly negative air pressure rooms, and a higher airborne fungal concentration in both areas used to treat COVID-19 patients. The result provided evidence of the potential environmental risk of CAPA by quantitative microbiologic air sampling, which was scarcely addressed in the literature. Enhancing environmental infection control measures to minimize exposure to fungal spores should be considered. However, the clinical implications of a periodic basis to determine indoor airborne fungal levels and further air sterilization in these areas remain to be defined.

The vaccination of all children may be one of the most important public health measures for preventing a wider spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the community. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the attitude, intention, decision making, and psychological well-being among the caregivers of children who received SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in Taiwan. The caregivers of children (98 preschool children, 191 school-age children, and 154 adolescents) who received COVID-19 vaccination were invited to fill in the following questionnaires: Adopting Self-Protective Behavior Scale, Drivers of COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance Scale, Impact of Event Scale, Chinese Health Questionnaire, and Parental Bonding Instrument. Compared to the caregivers of adolescents, the caregivers of preschool children exhibited more protective behaviors toward the COVID-19 pandemic. The caregivers of preschool children also displayed a higher emotional impact than those of adolescents and took a greater interest in the family’s opinion about vaccination. Finally, we found that COVID-19 ideological invasion and protective parenting style were significantly related to the prevalence of mental illness among caregivers. The results of this study can be used as an important reference for vaccination health care and policy formulation for adolescents with regard to COVID-19.

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During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, global vaccination efforts declined due to the burden on health systems and community resistance to epidemic control measures. Influenza and pneumococcal vaccines have been recommended for vulnerable populations to prevent severe pneumonia. We investigated community response towards influenza and pneumococcal vaccines (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine) after the COVID-19 outbreak in Taiwan. We retrospectively included adults who visited Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CGMH) institutions for influenza or pneumococcal vaccination from January 2018 to December 2021. The first case of COVID-19 in Taiwan was detected in January 2020; therefore, in this study, hospitalized cases from January 2018 to December 2019 were defined as “before COVID-19 outbreak,” and hospitalized cases from January 2020 to December 2021 were defined as “after COVID-19 outbreak”. A total of 105,386 adults were enrolled in the study. An increase in influenza vaccination (n = 33,139 vs. n = 62,634) and pneumococcal vaccination (n = 3035 vs. n = 4260) were observed after the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition, there was an increased willingness to receive both influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations among women, adults without underlying disease and younger adults. The COVID-19 pandemic may have increased awareness of the importance of vaccination in Taiwan.