Michael Moore

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most prevalent infections worldwide and a leading cause of cervical cancer, as well as anal, oropharyngeal, penile, vulval, and vaginal cancers. Despite the availability of safe and effective vaccines, coverage beyond female adolescent programmes remains often insufficient, leaving many adolescents and adults unprotected. The World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) convened a year-long global expert engagement forum to develop evidence-informed policy recommendations to advance HPV elimination. Building on this work, the resulting Call-to-Action urges countries to expand access to boys and adults. Adopting a life-course approach, integrated with screening, equitable access policies, and sustainable financing, can significantly increase coverage and reduce the burden of HPV-related cancers. This article outlines the main outcomes of the Call-to-Action and highlights key priorities for policy and decision makers committed to accelerating HPV elimination.

Background: Vaccine hesitancy (VH) and vaccine sentiment (VS) among healthcare workers (HCWs) play a crucial role in vaccination programs. In response to this global challenge, an international project was initiated to investigate the determinants of VS. Method: From 2022 to 2023, an anonymous cross-sectional online survey was disseminated to assess Brazilian HCWs’ characteristics, attitudes, and information sources regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Five psychological constructs were derived using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and associated with five VS (vaccination attention, vaccine intention, vaccine confidence, general attitude, and health system confidence) through multivariate logistic regressions. Results: The prevalence of VH was low among 634 participants (3.9%), and VS was generally positive. Most HCWs reported strong knowledge confidence (7.3/10), high fear of infection (8.0/10), broad agreement on vaccine necessity (98%), and frequently adopted institutional websites (85.4%) or scientific societies (70.8%) as information sources. Extended from the 5C model, obligated collective responsibility (OCR), representing a professional sense of duty, was significantly associated with vaccine intention, confidence, and attention. Trust in institutional websites emerged as a key determinant of positive VS, while institutional skepticism persisted, especially among HCWs in hospitals, universities, and research settings. “Calculation” was not a significant factor, potentially due to HCWs’ time constraints. Social media, friends, or community members did not significantly link to VS. Conclusions: This study identifies key determinants of VS and introduces OCR as a novel expansion to the 5C model. Enhancing VS will require trusted, concise institutional communication and ethics-driven workplace policies that appeal to HCWs’ professional responsibilities.

Background/Objectives: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a leading cause of Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (LRTIs), posing a serious threat to vulnerable populations. Although growing evidence highlights its significant impact on older adults, RSV surveillance and data collection remain largely focused on children, underestimating the burden in older and high-risk adults. This review aims to synthesize current evidence on the epidemiological and clinical impact of RSV in older adults in Europe, assess existing surveillance strategies, and identify gaps to guide targeted public health responses. Methods: A two-phase research strategy was adopted. First, a comprehensive review of studies published between 2015–2025 was conducted via PubMed, focusing on the RSV burden in high-risk and elderly populations in Europe. Second, a structured web screening was performed to assess the status of existing RSV surveillance systems, focusing on eight selected European countries. Results: The review reported RSV prevalence rates ranging from 1% to 64.7% among older adults, with a high prevalence of comorbidities that exacerbate disease severity. Hospitalization rates varied between 12.6–55.9%, while mortality ranged from 2.15% to 13%, reaching up to 36% in intensive care settings. Surveillance systems for adult RSV infections across Europe remain limited and fragmented, with only 37.5% (3/8) of analyzed countries having dedicated surveillance for adults. Conclusions: RSV represents a substantial and underrecognized threat to older adults, with significant clinical and healthcare implications. Strengthening surveillance, standardizing data collection, and ensuring equitable access to newly available preventive measures are urgent priorities to reduce the disease burden, protect vulnerable populations, and support resilient health systems against future health challenges.

Healthcare workers play a critical role in providing medical care to individuals and communities. Due to the nature of their work, compared to the general public, healthcare workers are at a higher risk of exposure to infectious diseases, including vaccine-preventable ones. The routine vaccination of healthcare workers in low- and lower-middle-income countries is a critical issue. Vaccination not only protects healthcare workers from contracting infectious diseases but also prevents the spread of diseases to the patients, reduces healthcare costs, increases healthcare workers’ morale and productivity, and demonstrates a commitment to health and safety. However, the implementation of policies for routine vaccination of healthcare workers in low- and lower-middle-income countries faces several challenges, including lack of funds, lack of evidence-based data, vaccination hesitancy through misguided beliefs, and low literacy among healthcare workers. In this article, we discuss the need for a policy for routine vaccination of healthcare workers in low- and lower-middle-income countries. We also analyse the barriers and recommendations for policy implementation and the role of partnerships. Additionally, we highlight the main points of the World Federation of Public Health Associations’ policy statement ‘Protecting the Healthcare Workforce in Low- and Middle-Income Countries through Vaccination’ which has the potential to drive policy-makers and healthcare organisations worldwide into prioritising routine vaccination of healthcare workers in low- and lower-middle-income countries.

Vaccinations of healthcare workers (HCWs) aim to directly protect them from occupational diseases, and indirectly protect their patients and communities. However, studies increasingly highlight that HCWs can be vaccine hesitant. This review aims to analyze HCWs’ and public health professionals’ sentiments toward COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) vaccination and determinants across different countries. A search strategy was conducted in PubMed using keywords such as “COVID-19”, “sentiment/acceptance”, “healthcare workers”, “vaccine hesitancy”, and “influenza”. A total of 56 articles were selected for in-depth analyses. The highest COVID-19 vaccination uptake was found in an Italian study (98.9%), and the lowest in Cyprus (30%). Older age, male gender, the medical profession, higher education level, presence of comorbidities, and previous influenza vaccination were associated with vaccine acceptance. Factors for low acceptance were perceived side effects of the vaccine, perceived lack of effectiveness and efficacy, and lack of information and knowledge. Factors for acceptance were knowledge, confidence in the vaccine, government, and health authorities, and increased perception of fear and susceptibility. All studies focused on healthcare providers; no studies focusing on public health professionals’ sentiments could be found, indicating a gap in research that needs to be addressed. Interventions must be implemented with vaccination campaigns to improve COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a continuous and robust impact on world health. The resulting COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating physical, mental and fiscal impact on the millions of people living with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). In addition to older age, people living with CVD, stroke, obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, and hypertension are at a particularly greater risk for severe forms of COVID-19 and its consequences. Meta-analysis indicates that hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and thrombotic complications have been observed as both the most prevalent and most dangerous co-morbidities in COVID-19 patients. And despite the nearly incalculable physical, mental, emotional, and economic toll of this pandemic, forthcoming public health figures continue to place cardiovascular disease as the number one cause of death across the globe in the year 2020. The world simply cannot wait for the next pandemic to invest in NCDs. Social determinants of health cannot be addressed only through the healthcare system, but a more holistic multisectoral approach with at its basis the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is needed to truly address social and economic inequalities and build more resilient systems. Yet there is reason for hope: the 2019 UN Political Declaration on UHC provides a strong framework for building more resilient health systems, with explicit calls for investment in NCDs and references to fiscal policies that put such investment firmly within reach. By further cementing the importance of addressing circulatory health in a future Framework Convention on Emergency Preparedness, WHO Member States can take concrete steps towards a pandemic-free future. As the chief representatives of the global circulatory health community and patients, the Global Coalition for Circulatory Health calls for increased support for the healthcare workforce, global vaccine equity, embracing new models of care and digital health solutions, as well as fiscal policies on unhealthy commodities to support these investments.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Unhealthy diets are one of four main behavioral risk factors contributing to the majority of NCDs. To promote healthy eating and reduce dietary risks, the Australian Commonwealth Government established the Healthy Food Partnership (HFP). In 2018, the HFP consulted on proposed nutrient reformulation targets for 36 food categories to improve the overall quality of the food supply. This study assessed whether the proposed targets were feasible and appropriate. The HFP used a five-step approach to inform the proposed targets. We replicated and extended this approach using a different nutrient composition database (FoodSwitch). Products in FoodSwitch were mapped to the proposed HFP targets. The proportion of products meeting each target was calculated and the FoodSwitch data were compared with HFP data to determine whether the proposed target nutrient levels were appropriate or whether a more stringent target was feasible. Products from the FoodSwitch database (10,599) were mapped against the proposed HFP categories: 8434 products across 30 categories for sodium, 2875 products across seven categories for sugar, and 612 products across five categories for saturated fat. The analyses revealed that 14 of 30 proposed HFP targets for sodium, one of seven targets for sugar, and one of five targets for saturated fat were feasible and appropriate. For the remaining 26 reformulation targets, the results indicate that these target levels could be more stringent and alternative targets are proposed. The draft HFP targets are feasible but the majority are too conservative. If Australia is to meet its commitment to a 30 per cent reduction in the average population salt intake by 2025, these targets could be implemented as interim targets to be reached within two years. However, the opportunity exists to improve the food supply and strengthen the HFP’s population health impact by adopting more ambitious and incremental targets. Reformulation programs should be prioritized and closely monitored as part of a coordinated, multi-faceted national food and nutrition strategy.

M. Moore will discuss the nanny state approach and the arm wrestling with the food industry, providing examples and facilitating the development of key advocacy skills to play this power game.