Vaccines prevented 2.5 million Covid deaths globally

Arecent study by scientists of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome and Stanford University (USA) published in Jama Health Forum reveals that vaccinations against the Covid-19 virus between 2020-24 prevented 2.53 million deaths globally with one death avoided for every 5,400 doses of vaccine administered.

The researchers studied worldwide population data, applying a series of statistical methodologies to conclude that of the lives saved, 82 percent were vaccinated. “While previous studies have attempted to estimate the number of lives saved by vaccines using various models and data from different time periods or regions, ours stands out as the most comprehensive. It uses global data, including the Omicron period, calculates the total number of years of life saved, and makes fewer assumptions about the pandemic’s trajectory,” say Dr. Stephania Boccia, professor of general and applied hygiene and Dr. Angelo Maria Pezzullo, researcher at Università Cattolica.

Excess smartphone use in pre-teen years causes poor mental health

Arecent global study published in Journal of Human Development and Capabilities (July) has found that children who received their first smartphone at age 12 or earlier are more likely to report suicidal thoughts, aggression, detachment from reality, poorer emotional regulation, and low self-worth by early adulthood.

A team of experts from the Chandigarh-based Sapien Labs, which hosts the world’s largest database on mental well-being and the Global Mind Project, are calling for urgent action to protect the mental health of future generations. “Our data indicates that early smartphone ownership — and the social media access it brings — is linked with profound shift in mental health and well-being in early adulthood,” says Dr. Tara Thiagarajan, lead author and founder-Chief Scientist of Sapien Labs.

“These correlations are mediated through several factors, including social media access, cyberbullying, disrupted sleep, and poor family relationships. The symptoms in adulthood are not the traditional mental health symptoms of depression and anxiety which can be missed by studies using standard screeners. These symptoms can have significant societal consequences as their incidence grows in younger generations,” she adds.

Children routinely exposed to a range of harmful chemicals

Children in the 2-4 years age group in the US are routinely exposed to a broad range of potentially harmful chemicals, says a national study published in Environmental Science & Technology (July). The research study was conducted by multiple US institutions in collaboration with the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO), a program funded by National Institutes of Health.

Researchers examined urine samples of 201 children for 111 harmful chemicals and found 96 in at least five children; 48 in over half of the children and 34 in more than 90 percent of children. “Our study indicates that childhood exposure to harmful chemicals is widespread. This is alarming because we know early childhood is a critical window for brain and body development. Many of these chemicals are known to interfere with hormones, brain development and immune function,” says  Deborah H. Bennett, lead author and professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis.

Walking 7,000 steps per day minimises health risks

Walking 7,000 steps daily offers health benefits similar to walking 10,000 steps, says a new study published in The Lancet Public Health (July). Led by Prof. Melody Ding of the School of Public Health, University of Sydney, the study analysed data from 57 studies conducted in over ten countries including in Australia, USA, UK and Japan from 2014 to 2025. The largest and most comprehensive such review to date, it examined the impact that different daily step counts have on the chance of dying from cardiovascular disease and cancer, and developing diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, dementia and depression.

“Aiming for 7,000 steps is a realistic goal based on our findings, which assessed health outcomes in a range of areas. We know daily step count is linked to living longer, but we now also have evidence that walking at least 7,000 steps a day can significantly reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia and depressive symptoms,” says Prof. Ding.