BackgroundSince the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, efforts have been in place to tackle the infection. Mass vaccination programs were regarded as the sole solution to end the pandemic. Here, we compare the differential impact of mass vaccination programs in Saudi Arabia (SA) and the United Kingdom (UK) on COVID-19 morbidity and mortality to determine whether vaccines were solely responsible for the changes observed in the disease dynamics. MethodologyWe retrospectively collected the number of new cases and deaths throughout 2021 in both SA and the UK. Similarly, the number of vaccine doses delivered in both countries was collected and compared. ResultsThrough 2021, the percentage of daily COVID-19 cases was significantly less in SA than in the UK; however, the percentage of deaths was higher in SA. Interestingly, the percentage of daily cases was significantly reduced in SA upon vaccination. The vaccination coverage of both the first and second doses was higher in the UK compared to SA, and, consequently, the percentage of deaths was significantly reduced in the UK compared to SA. ConclusionsThe UK vaccination program succeeded in curbing the number of daily deaths compared to SA. SA had better control over the percentage of daily cases, primarily due to the restrictive measures and vaccination, such as the imposed social distancing and mandatory face masks.

Simultaneously with the development of the COVID-19 vaccination plan for minors, it is critical to understand the reasons related to parental COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy. This study aims to determine the reasons associated with vaccination hesitancy among parents, and the prevalence and the characteristics of the parents who are hesitant to allow their children aged between 5 to 11 years old to be administered the COVID-19 vaccines. A web-based questionnaire was used to perform this study between May 2022 to September 2022 in Saudi Arabia (SA). Several factors, personal and social, affected the participants’ willingness to vaccinate their children with the COVID-19 vaccines. The age of the parents was found to have a significant impact on their decision to vaccinate their children. Those between the age of 40–49 years of age were the most willing to vaccinate (almost 41%) compared to those 50 years or older who were most resistant to vaccination. Female participants were more resistant to vaccinating their children compared to their male counterparts. Saudis were more resistant to vaccinating their children compared to the non-Saudi participants. Those private sector-employed parents were the most willing to vaccinate (16.6%), followed by those working in the governmental sector (13.8%). About 40.7% of non-healthcare workers were resistant to vaccinating their minor compared to healthcare workers (8.7%). In conclusion, the study presents several factors that affect the parental willingness to vaccinate their children in SA. These factors should be properly addressed when developing public health strategies to promote the COVID-19 vaccination of children in SA.

Vitamin B12 is essential for the development of healthy nerves and red blood cells. Vitamin B12 deficiency is becoming widespread and most commonly affects the elderly, pregnant women, vegetarians, and patients with renal or intestinal diseases. Either parenteral vitamin B12 treatment or high-dose oral vitamin B12 treatment is an effective therapy regardless of etiology. Parenteral therapy using the intramuscular route is considered the most familiar treatment for vitamin B12 deficiency. Anaphylactic reaction after intramuscular injection is an uncommon and potentially serious side effect. In this study, we are documenting a case of anaphylactic reaction in a 50-year-old man after her second dose of intramuscular injection of cyanocobalamin. The purpose of this case report is to highlight the need to understand the rare life-threatening side effect of intramuscular cyanocobalamin. Health care providers should be vigilant while administering the intramuscular injection of cyanocobalamin to vitamin B12 deficient patients.

Human monkeypox is a zoonotic disease resulting from the monkeypox virus (MPXV). During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, MPXV has become a global concern. From 1 January to 22 June of the current year, the World Health Organization (WHO) received reports of 3413 confirmed cases and one death. The most common cases (98%) have been recorded since May of this year (2022). The ongoing outbreak is largely affecting men who have sex with men (MSM). Most of the confirmed cases (86%, n=2933) have occurred in the WHO European countries. Other confirmed cases have been documented from the Americas (11%, n=381), Africa (2%, n=73), Western Pacific (less than 1%, n=11), and Eastern Mediterranean (less than 1%, n=15) regions. It is too early to decide whether the monkeypox outbreak is an independent phenomenon or has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, global healthcare organizations should apply precautionary measures to stop this outbreak.