Background Effective and safe COVID 19 vaccines have been approved for emergency use since the end of 2020 and countries are actively vaccinating their people. Nevertheless, hesitancy towards the vaccines exist globally. Objectives We conducted this study to understand the attitudes towards COVID 19 vaccines and hesitancy to accept it among urban and rural communities in Tamil Nadu, India. Methods We conducted a community based cross sectional study in urban and rural communities among 564 persons who had not been vaccinated yet, selected through multistage random sampling. The vaccine attitude scale (VAX) was used to measure attitudes towards the vaccines and their acceptance of the vaccine was captured by responses to a direct question. Results More than 50% of the respondents had positive attitudes towards the COVID 19 vaccines. Based on their attitudes, they were segmented into four clusters, first with preference for natural immunity compared to vaccines and low concern regarding adverse effects. Second with high level of trust in vaccines and low mistrust. The third cluster members had high level of concern regarding the adverse effects and low levels of mistrust in vaccines and the fourth had high trust in vaccines and low preference for natural immunity. Older individuals with higher education and occupation were more likely to belong to cluster four with high trust in the vaccines. Younger individuals, women, rural residents, belonging to low income labourer class were highly mistrusting of the vaccines. The prevalence of vaccine hesitancy was 40.7% (95% CI – 36.67 - 44.73%), while 19.5% (95% CI = 16.23 - 22.77%) of the respondents were vaccine deniers. While vaccine acceptance was greatest in cluster 1, it was least in cluster 3. Conclusions Vaccine hesitancy was high in urban and rural Tamil Nadu. The population could be effectively segmented into groups based on their attitudes and this understanding can be used to develop targeted behaviour change communication campaigns.

BackgroundUnconjugated bilirubin deposition in the neuronal membrane leads to permanent neuronal injury. Primary aim of detecting and treating neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is the prevention of bilrubin encephalopathy and its chronic sequalae. Therapeutic options for unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia in neonates, like phototherapy and blood exchange transfusion are costly, time-consuming and potentially risky. New therapeutic methods appear to be necessary to decrease elevated serum

C4d staining is a useful adjunct to routine histopathological methods in evaluating the humoral component of acute renal allograft dysfunction and helps in planning appropriate antirejection therapy with the goal of achieving long-term graft survival.

Background: Neonatal jaundice is accountable for 70% neonatal morbidity and 10% mortality. It is the most common cause of re-admission after discharge from hospital. Here, we have studied the effect of Fenofibrate as an adjunct to phototherapy in treating neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 90 neonates with hyperbilirubinaemia requiring phototherapy, they were randomly allocated to two groups, both the groups received phototherapy whereas the intervention group received single dose of fenofibrate (10mg/kg) in addition. Total serum bilirubin after 48 hours and duration of phototherapy was measured in both groups. Results: The study proved that there is a decrease in duration of phototherapy and decline in serum bilirubin after 48 hours of phototherapy in intervention group, but the difference is not statistically significant. Conclusion:There is a non-significant role of Fenofibrate in decreasing neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

No abstract