Suchergebnisse

This paper adds some formal research to the success of ongoing efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic by examining the drivers of the administration and delivery efficiency of coronavirus vaccines. For this purpose, we use data from the 50 US states and place the formal analysis in the context of socio-economic drivers of vaccinations. Results show that state economic prosperity and rural population aid vaccine administration and delivery efficiency. Delivery efficiency improves in states with more nursing homes per capita, in states with more COVID-19 deaths, and with more health workers. The subset of health workers, including physicians and nurses, did not significantly impact administration or efficiency. On the other hand, vaccination efficiency was lower in states with a centralized public health agency. States with a larger share of the elderly population and those with Democrats as governors were no different from others with regard to vaccinations. Robustness checks are performed using vaccination from a more recent period. Finally, a state's legacy of corrupt activity, across two different time dimensions, is broadly consistent with the greasing effects of corruption. While the study uses data from a single nation that is among the first to start vaccinating its population, the findings have relevance for other nations, especially in the Global South, that are starting vaccinations or lagging behind in delivering vaccines.

Com a pandemia e a falta de público presencial, as empresas tiveram que adaptar suas estratégias para enfrentar os desafios do distanciamento social. O marketing digital e o delivery se destacaram como soluções essenciais para impulsionar a recuperação econômica no setor de restaurantes. Este estudo buscou compreender como o marketing digital e o delivery podem influenciar o reposicionamento mercadológico nesse cenário. Foi realizada uma pesquisa aplicada, com abordagem descritiva e quantitativa, envolvendo 25 empresários do setor de restaurantes em Porto Seguro, Bahia. Os resultados indicam que, apesar das dificuldades impostas pela pandemia, há perspectivas positivas para a recuperação desse segmento, com o marketing digital e o delivery sendo ferramentas-chave nessas novas estratégias de mercado.

South African municipal service delivery has been an area of highly debated concern, with many citizens lacking access to basic service delivery, such as water and electricity. Fast forward to the Covid-19 Pandemic, bombarding itself into every state, home and workplace and concerns over municipal service delivery has amplified. Much like Covid-19, the fourth industrial revolution too erupted into every facet of public and private life but more optimistically, so as it promises to fast track economic development, ease mundane daily tasks and improve services and systems. This article explores municipal service delivery in South Africa and its intersection with emerging technologies, further providing prospects for future application. The article relies on a qualitative approach, reviewing primary and secondary literature, such as statistics, reports and journal articles to explore how advanced and emerging technologies have been applied at a local level to improve municipal service delivery, further attempting to understand future prospects. From the findings of the study, it is evident, that protest action against municipal service delivery has escalated in the last few years, signifying possible worsening service delivery and little adaptation of new methods and technologies. However, there have been some attempts to improve service delivery, utilising emerging technologies, but much more can be done as illustrated in other states, at a local and national level

Vaccination against the COVID 19 virus is the most effective way to prevent infection and save lives. It is estimated that 285 million doses per month will be needed over the next five months to vaccinate all remaining adults by the end of 2021. To accelerate the vaccination coverage for its population, the state of Uttar Pradesh, North India, has planned a cluster approach to vaccination in rural areas. The cluster strategy is a micro-plan for vaccination by the government of U.P involving intensive mobilisation activities followed by vaccination at centres set up in schools, Panchayat Bhavans and other selected places. It is a people-centred and comprehensive approach, modelled on listening to the intended beneficiaries and stakeholders is vital. It will reduce expenses related to travel and loss of wages for those missing work while travelling far to get vaccinated. The cluster approach is also along the lines of the Near to Home COVID Vaccination Centres (NHCVC) for Elderly and Differently Abled Citizens. The main fear of the health workers regarding the cluster approach is concerning adverse events and their management at the peripheral level. This strategy is only practically possible if an adequate supply of vaccines is available. The cluster approach to vaccination ensures accessibility, includes community participation and is provided free of cost. This is thus in line with the concept of Primary Health Care (PHC) which is essential health care made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community by means acceptable to them, through their full participation and at a cost the community and country can afford. Popularising this strategy and applying it to other states in a tailored manner based on social and cultural practices can give the nation the necessary momentum to attain the target of herd immunity quickly and curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

Access to abortion care has long been a global challenge, even in jurisdictions where abortion is legal. The COVID‐19 pandemic has exacerbated barriers to access, thereby preventing many women from terminating unwanted pregnancies for an extended period. In this paper, we outline existing and COVID‐specific barriers to abortion care and consider potential solutions, including the use of telemedicine, to overcome barriers to access during the pandemic and beyond. We explore the responses of governments throughout the world to the challenge of abortion access during the pandemic, which are an eclectic mix of progressive, neutral, and regressive policies. Finally, we call on all governments to recognize abortion as essential healthcare and act to ensure that the law does not continue to interfere with providers' ability to adapt to circumstances and to guarantee safe and appropriate care not only during the pandemic, but permanently.

Abstract
In Fall 2020, all universities in Alberta went with remote delivery of classes due to COVID-19 restrictions. This provided not only teaching challenges, but also opportunities. Professors at three Canadian universities teaching similar undergraduate courses in international political economy decided to use the challenges/opportunities of COVID-19 restrictions to experiment with a World Trade Organization (WTO) simulation across three campuses through remote delivery. Simulations are frequently used for teaching in political science, but what was unusual was doing it through remote delivery. This paper assesses the effectiveness of the experiment. It traces the origins/evolution of the idea, learning objectives for the students, preparation by the professors to design the WTO simulation, and the experience of the actual simulation. It also addresses the challenges (technological, timing, assignments, grading, student anxiety, etc.). In addition, it identifies the steps that were taken to reduce and mitigate the challenges. It also acknowledges the mistakes that were made by the professors in designing and implementing the assignment. These observations and reflections are informed by the materials that the professors prepared, their thoughts on the experience, and the feedback from participating students (through official student evaluations as well as a special survey instrument). It provides lessons for future online simulations.

In an unexpected circumstance, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, public service delivery cannot be suspended, but must be delivered online, relying on the available digital technology. Social media, specifically, have been widely used to reach a broader portion of the population. This article discusses the digital acceleration that governments and organizations are now facing. The focus is on Italian state museums, which have been pushed for years to adopt digital tools to increase participation. This article highlights three main dilemmas in service delivery: user engagement; planning and control; and costs. The three dilemmas show the social and organizational challenges connected to digital transformation, underlining the issues that organizations will have to face in the future and not just in an emergency such as COVID-19.IMPACT: How should public sector institutions use digital technologies for service delivery in unexpected circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic? Starting from the empirical setting of 100 Italian state museums, this article shows how digital technologies, and social media particularly, can be a powerful tool for public service delivery when an onsite service cannot be provided. The authors explain the benefits of online service delivery, for example broader audiences and new ways of interacting with users. They also highlight areas that need discussion and further research, for example whether online services should be provided with a fee or free and the trade-off between carefully planning a digital transformation and reacting promptly to catastrophic events.