New Paper out: The role of social inequalities in the uptake of public health measures during COVID-19 in Norway

masv on 24. March 2021

You can read the paper here: Social Disparities in Adopting Non-pharmaceutical Interventions During COVID-19 – Svenn-Erik Mamelund, Jessica Dimka, Nan Zou Bakkeli, 2021 (sagepub.com)

In the absence of vaccines to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020 governments had to respond by rely on non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). Socioeconomic inequalities likely influenced the uptake of NPIs. Using Norwegian survey data, we study whether income was associated with increased handwashing, keeping 1 m distance, using facemasks increased use of home office, and less use of public transportation. Except for using facemasks and less public transportation in a non-work context, all analyzed NPIs showed an independent positive association with income. Social disparities in NPI uptake may be important drivers of higher risks of disease outcomes for people of lower socioeconomic status.

Levekår burde brukes til fordeling av vaksine i tillegg til den medisinske

masv on 22. March 2021

Det ikke er nok å fordele vaksiner til kommunene etter kun den medisinske nøkkelen for å redusere risiko for smitte, sykehusinnleggelser og død, skriver senterlederen Svenn-Erik Mamelund i en ny spalte i Morgenbladet.

Her: Mangfoldskontakt Shabana Fazal, går fra dør til dør og deler ut munnbind og informerer. Stovner i Oslo er en av bydelene med høyest smitte og større grad av innvandring. Fredrik Solstad / VG / NTB

Les spalten her: Levekår og innvandrerbakgrunn må også brukes som fordelingsnøkler for vaksine | morgenbladet.no

The 3rd PANSOC webinar was recorded & is now available

masv on 19. March 2021

Image result for Siddharth Chandra MSU. Size: 204 x 204. Source: www.researchgate.net

Please find the talk given by Professor Siddharth Chandra, Michigan State University, 18th March, on the Demographic impacts of the 1918 influenza pandemic, here:

https://hioa365-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/jara_oslomet_no/EUuTQIqSp3lMo_BZwNF3apEBnW698JK7hYC9WeRsmMMA3A?e=0AmYsI

The Q&A session can be found here:

https://hioa365-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/jara_oslomet_no/EVv1wx0TWV1FhUe4GaNPmtgBxRg4_mNnmOa7egrAlsuUcQ?e=5p8J9U

The First Year of the COVID-19 pandemic

masv on 19. March 2021

On the 25th of March (16:00-17:00 CET), Professor Lone Simonsen, Roskilde University, will present on “The First Year of the COVID-19 Pndemic” at the 4th PANSOC webinar this spring.

Image result for Lone Simonsen. Size: 163 x 110. Source: ruc.dk

Send e-mail to masv@oslomet.no if you wish to participate in this webinar.

Blurb: One year ago, many European countries including Denmark went into an unprecedented lockdown.  So far we have been able to suppress transmission of the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus to such an extent that less than 1 in 10 Danes have been infected so far.  And in a few months we will all be offered one of the highly effective COVID-19 vaccines that became available in record time.  Is that then the end of the pandemic? I will first discuss the knowns about the COVID-19 pandemic. First, about the collaboration with Kim Sneppen at the NBI regarding the phenomenon of superspreading, and modeling how this defining feature of the virus turns out to be an Achilles heel of the virus that has allowed effective suppression of epidemics of the virus while we waited for a vaccine.  Using Denmark as a case, I will consider the magnitude of the catastrophe that we managed to avoid so far.  Finally I will discuss accumulating data on the effectiveness of the vaccines, and discuss at various scenarios regarding our future life with COVID-19 in the vaccine era and the critical unknowns that cloud our view.

New Paper out!

masv on 16. March 2021

The Centre leader, Svenn-Erik Mamelund, and co-centre leader, Jessica Dimka, has published an invited comment article in Scandinavian Journal of Public Health.

The comment is basically explaining the core idea of PANSOC. Here is a quote from the article:

“During pandemics like COVID-19, socioeconomic inequalities produce disparities in both disease outcomes & potential negative consequences of control measures. Preparedness and response plans must address social & medical risk factors”.

You can read the article in full here: Social inequalities in infectious diseases – Svenn-Erik Mamelund, Jessica Dimka, 2021 (sagepub.com)

Sosial ulikhet i smitte selv i en av Norges rikeste kommuner

masv on 13. March 2021

Journalistene i Budstikka har gjort en god gravejobb og viser at innen en av Norges rikeste kommuner så finne store sosiale skiller i smittestatistikken. Artikkelen graver inn selve fundamenmtet for PANSOC. Hvorfor fordeler vi ikke vaksiner etter sosiale forhold, og ikke bare etter medisinske forhold (høy alder og bakenforliggende sykdommer) og folketall? Geografisk skjefordeling tar indirekte, men ikke direkte høyde for underliggende sosial sårbarhet.

Les mer her i intervjuet med senterlederen: Stort smitteskille mellom øst og vest • Budstikka

Demographic impacts of the 1918 influenza pandemic

masv on 11. March 2021

Professor Siddharth Chandra, Michigan State University will present on this exciting topic Thursday March 18 (16:00-1700 CET).

Please send us an e-mail for the zoom-link at masv@oslomet.no


Blurb: The 1918 influenza pandemic had a profound impact on populations around the world. This presentation highlights research on pandemic impacts on various aspects of key demographic aggregates in various parts of the world. These include estimating the demographic toll of the pandemic in the absence of reliable birth and death registration data, the timing and magnitude of waves of infection and mortality, the age structure of mortality during the pandemic, and impacts of the pandemic on births and maternal health. Where relevant, lessons are drawn for understanding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.