Attitudes towards booster, testing and isolation, and their impact on COVID-19 response in winter 2022/2023 in France, Belgium, and Italy: a cross-sectional survey and modelling study

• DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100614
• Publication Date: 2023-03-23T23:24:07Z
• Authors: Giulia de Meijere; Eugenio Valdano; Claudio Castellano; Marion Debin; Charly Kengne-Kue...; Clément Turbelin; Harold Noël; Joshua S. Weitz; Daniela Paolotti; Lisa Hermans; Niel Hens; Vittoria Colizza
• Keywords: Pandemic; Isolation; Booster (rocketry)

European countries are focusing on testing, isolation, and boosting strategies to counter the 2022/2023 winter surge due SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants. However, widespread pandemic fatigue limited compliance potentially undermine mitigation efforts.To establish a baseline for interventions, we ran multicountry survey assess respondents' willingness receive booster vaccination comply with testing isolation mandates. Integrating estimated immunity data in branching process epidemic spreading model, evaluated effectiveness costs of current protocols France, Belgium, Italy manage wave.The vast majority participants (N = 4594) was willing adhere (>91%) rapid (>88%) across three countries. Pronounced differences emerged declared senior adherence (73% 94% 86% Italy). Epidemic model results estimate that would confer significant benefit reducing transmission (17-24% reduction, from R 1.6 1.3 France 1.2 Italy) adherence. Achieving mitigating level similar French protocol, Belgian protocol require 35% fewer tests (from 1 test 0.65 per infected person) avoid long periods Italian (average 6 days vs. 11). A cost barrier significantly decrease undermining protocols' effectiveness.Simpler mandates may increase awareness actual compliance, costs, without compromising mitigation. High uptake remains key control Commission, ANRS-Maladies Infectieuses Émergentes, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Chaires Blaise Pascal Program Île-de-France region.