American journal of preventive medicine
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This study aims to determine whether subway ridership and built environmental factors, such as population density and points of interests, are linked to the per capita COVID-19 infection rate in New York City ZIP codes, after controlling for racial and socioeconomic characteristics. ⋯ Point-of-interest destinations not only could facilitate the spread of virus to other parts of the city (through indirect effects) but also were significantly associated with the higher infection rate in their immediate neighborhoods during the early stages of the pandemic. Policymakers should pay particularly close attention to neighborhoods with a high proportion of crowded households and these destinations during the early stages of pandemics.
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During a pandemic, there are many situations in which the first available vaccines may not have as high effectiveness as vaccines that are still under development or vaccines that are not yet ready for distribution, raising the question of whether it is better to go with what is available now or wait. ⋯ This study shows that there are relatively few situations in which it is worth foregoing the first COVID-19 vaccine available in favor of a vaccine that becomes available later on in the pandemic even if the latter vaccine has a substantially higher efficacy.
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This paper describes the occupations in the U.S. that involve close contact with others and whether the work is outdoors or indoors (risk factors for COVID-19), including the distribution of Black and Hispanic workers over these occupations. ⋯ Implementation of COVID-19 preventive measures in work settings should be based on occupation-specific risk factors, including the extent of proximity to others and whether the work is conducted outdoors or indoors. It is important that communication messages are tailored to the languages and preferred media of the workforce.
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Heated tobacco products, also referred to as heat-not-burn tobacco, are among the latest products introduced to the market by the tobacco industry. However, data on heated tobacco product awareness and use from population-based probability surveys are limited. This study examines heated tobacco product awareness and ever use among U.S. adults. ⋯ Although the ever use of heated tobacco products is uncommon among U.S. adults, recent regulatory approval of the marketing of IQOS as modified risk tobacco products may increase use. Therefore, ongoing monitoring of heated tobacco products use and their long-term health consequences are important for informing future decision making.