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A Case for Cross-Border Governance? A Comparative Trend Assessment of COVID-19 Transmission, Vaccination, and Outcomes Among 35 Nations in Europe Across 18 months

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 May 2022

Sarah Cuschieri Open the ORCID record for Sarah Cuschieri [Opens in a new window] ,
Andrea Cuschieri Open the ORCID record for Andrea Cuschieri [Opens in a new window] ,
Elysia Farrugia ,
Emily Diacono ,
Elaine Balzan ,
Miguel Grupetta ,
Alessia Vella ,
Catriona Cutajar ,
Martina Formosa  and
Matthias Barbara
...Show all authors
Sarah Cuschieri
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Andrea Cuschieri*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Elysia Farrugia
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Emily Diacono
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Elaine Balzan
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Miguel Grupetta
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Alessia Vella
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Catriona Cutajar
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Martina Formosa
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Matthias Barbara
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Franziska Mintoff
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Conor Shaw
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Samuel Fleri-Soler
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Norbert Borg
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Gillian Pace
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Lauren Vella
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Robert Pisani
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Tamara Attard-mallia
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Mattea Gouder
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Rosie Attard
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Nicole Grixti
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Mark Scicluna
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Timothy Borda
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Katya Bartolo
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Ruben Chircop
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Etienne Degabrielle-Ferrante
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Mariah Mallia
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Miguel Attard
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Naomi Frendo
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Gianluca Gatt
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Greta Damato
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Nicole Riolo
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Lorna Muscat-Baron
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Matteo Galea
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Elizabeth Grech
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
*
Corresponding author: Andrea Cuschieri, E-mail: andrea.cuschieri.19@um.edu.mt.
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Abstract

Objective:

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread globally, including across Europe, resulting in different morbidity and mortality outcomes. The aim of this study was to explore the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic over 18 mo in relation to the effect of COVID-19 vaccination at a population level across 35 nations in Europe, while evaluating the data for cross-border epidemiological trends to identify any pertinent lessons that can be implemented in the future.

Methods:

Epidemiological data were obtained from European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and Our World in Data databases while Ministry of Health websites of each respective country and local newspapers were used for COVID-19-related vaccination strategies. Case, mortality, and vaccination incidence comparative analyses were made across neighboring countries.

Results:

Similar morbidity and mortality outcomes were evident across neighboring countries over 18 mo, with a bidirectional relationship evident between cumulative fully vaccinated population and case fatality rates.

Conclusion:

Countries’ COVID-19 outcome is related on national mitigative measures, vaccination rollouts, and neighboring countries’ actions and COVID-19 situations. Mass population vaccination appeared to be effective in reducing COVID-19 case severity and mortality rates. Vaccination equity and pan-European commitment for cross-border governance appear to be the way forward to ensure populations’ return to “normality.”

Keywords

coronavirusEuropemorbiditymortalitymass vaccinationsepidemiology
Type
Brief Report
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 17 , 2023 , e196
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.

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