Parity of esteem: A global COVID-19 vaccination approach for people with mental illnesses, based on facts from 34 countries; recommendations and solutions.
Journal: Industrial psychiatry journal
Volume: 33
Issue: 1
Year of Publication:
Affiliated Institutions:
Department of Health Services, Srinagar, India.
Psychosis Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Neuro Sciences and Addiction Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Guwahati, Silbharal, Changsari, Kamrup -Rural Guwahati, Assam, India.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Kelaniya, Ragama, Sri Lanka.
Consultant Psychiatrist, Emergency Mental Health, Sunshine Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
Department of Internal Medicine, Reading Hospital, Tower Health, West Reading, PA, US.
Department of Psychiatry, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau, Nigeria.
Zagazig Faculty of Medicine, Egypt.
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, New Zealand.
College of Psychiatrists of Ireland, Republic of Ireland.
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand.
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Department of Psychiatry, National Medical College, Birgunj, Nepal.
Department of Psychiatry, St Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Swaziland Street, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Department of Psychiatry, Başkent University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey.
Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Director of Media and Lecturer, University of Raparin, Ranya, Iraq.
Moi, Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya.
Independent Public Health Consultant, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Universitas Airlangga, Jawa Timur, Indonesia.
Department of Mental Health, Azerbaijan Republican Psychiatric Hospital, Baku, Azerbaijan.
Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Bangladesh.
Yan an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Semmelweis University, Hungry.
Saint Petersburg University, St Petersburg, Russia.
Faculty of Medicine, Aleppo University, Aleppo, Syria.
Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
Abstract summary
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has detrimental effects on physical and mental health. Patients with severe mental illness are at higher risk of contracting the virus due to social determinants of health. Vulnerable populations include the elderly, people with pre-existing conditions, and those exposed to SARS-CoV-2. Unfortunately, only a few countries have updated vaccination strategies to prioritize patients with mental illnesses. Therefore, we aimed to explore whether individuals with mental disorders are prioritized in vaccine allocation strategies in different world regions. They are often neglected in policymaking but are highly vulnerable to the threatening complications of COVID-19.A questionnaire was developed to record details regarding COVID-19 vaccination and prioritizations for groups of persons with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mental disorders, and substance use disorders (SUDs). were defined according to the WHO as chronic diseases that are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases, and diabetes.Most countries surveyed (80%) reported healthcare delivery via a nationalized health service. It was found that 82% of the countries had set up advisory groups, but only 26% included a mental health professional. Most frequently, malignancy (68%) was prioritized followed by diabetes type 2 (62%) and type 1 (59%). Only nine countries (26%) prioritized mental health conditions.The spread of the coronavirus has exposed both the strengths and flaws of our healthcare systems. The most vulnerable groups suffered the most and were hit first and faced most challenges. These findings raise awareness that patients with mental illnesses have been overlooked in immunization campaigns. The range of their mortality, morbidity, and quality of life could have widened due to this delay.
Authors & Co-authors:
Shoib Sheikh S
Saeed Fahimeh F
Philip Sharad S
Chandradasa Miyuru M
Das Soumitra S
de Filippis Renato R
Yousaf Zohaib Z
Ojeahere Margaret M
Gad Hasnaa K HK
Yadivel Ramyadarshni R
Legris Zahra Z
Jatchavala Chonnakarn C
Paul Ravi R
Gupta Anoop K AK
Handuleh Jibril I M JIM
Gürcan Ahmet A
da Costa Mariana Pinto MP
Dannatt Lisa L
Ahmad Araz R AR
Jaguga Florence F
Saleem Sheikh M SM
Sawitri Brihastami B
Arif Nigar N
Islam Md Saiful MS
Haque Md Ariful MA
Őri Dorottya D
Chumakov Egor E
Swed Sarya S
Roza Thiago H TH
Islam Sheikh Mohammed Shariful SMS
Study Outcome
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