Background: A year after the COVID-19 pandemic vaccination rollout, vaccine elicited immunity is waning and newer variants e.g. The Delta Variants and Omicron have necessitated the administration of booster doses because of the rise in breakthrough infection rate. The objectives of our study are to determine the prevalence of acceptance status of Covid-19 booster dose in the adult population of Pakistan and its association with knowledge and perceived benefits. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted by online self-administered questionnaire shared to the general population of Pakistan. The form was distributed to 100,000 people out of which 461 responded. The questionnaire was based on the Health Belief Model. Frequencies and proportions for categorical variables, and the Chi-squared test was used to examine differences between COVID-19 booster acceptance and perceived barriers in getting a booster dose and between booster acceptance and knowledge on health benefits of a booster dose. Results: 89.4% reported acceptance of the COVID 19 booster dose . The youngest age group of 18-30 years had acceptance prevalence of this group was 85.4% . Participants with respiratory disease (2.6%) had an acceptance prevalence of 12%, along with participants who identified “other” comorbidities (2.4%) that had a 10% acceptance prevalence. Of all subjects who participated 97% (n=447) had been vaccinated and 32.1% (n=148) had received the booster dose. Knowledge was significant at a p-value <0.01 for acceptance of a booster dose. One of the significant perceived barriers and concerns regarding the Covid-19 booster dose according to chi square test results, was being too busy to get the booster dose. Conclusion: Our research has findings which indicate a relatively large percentage of respondents accepting COVID-19 booster vaccination. More efforts are needed to help people register and educate people about the long-term risks.

The long-term sequelae of COVID-19 have now become more common and appreciable. The SARS-CoV-2 virus can cause a variety of infectious and non-infectious pulmonary complications. The purpose of this study is to raise awareness about post-COVID-19 pulmonary sequelae, both infectious and non-infectious, in this geographical area. A retrospective study was conducted from July 1st 2020 to December 20th 2020. A total of 1200 patients were evaluated, with 83 suffering from post-COVID-19 pulmonary complications. The patients' mean age was 62 years (IQR 55-69), with 63 (75.9%) being male. The most common co-morbid illnesses were hypertension (49, 59%) and diabetes (45, 54.2%). The majority of them (37, 44.6%) had severe COVID-19, followed by critical COVID-19 (33, 39.8%). There was no statistically significant difference in recurrence of respiratory symptoms or duration of current illness between non-severe, severe, and critical COVID-19 patients. Non-infectious complications were observed in the majority of patients (n=76, 91.5%), including organizing pneumonia/ground glass opacities in 71 (88%) patients, fibrosis in 44 (55%), pulmonary embolism in 10 (12.5%), pneumomediastinum in 6 (7.4%) and pneumothorax in 7 (8.6%). Infective complications (25, 30.1%) included aspergillus infection in 10 (12.0%) and bacterial infection in 5 (8.47%), with more gram-negative infections and one patient developing Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Post COVID-19 mortality was 11 (13.3%). The long-term pulmonary sequelae of COVID-19 are not rare. Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, ground glass opacities, and fibrosis were common post-COVID-19 sequelae in our patients. This necessitates frequent close monitoring of these patients in order to initiate early appropriate management and prevent further morbidity and eventual mortality.

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