Preventing disease and strengthening health system are key while we open up economies
BOBBY RAMAKANT - CNS
SMSV (Sanitation, Masks, Social Distancing, Vaccination) is key as we open up social mixing and economic activities
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Although some parts of the world are reporting another rise in new COVID-19 infections, many countries are doing away with pandemic-related public health and social measures that were put in place over two years ago. Experts of Organized Medicine Academic Guild of India (OMAG) raised an alarm and called for layered safeguards with "One World One Health" approach while we rebuild a more equitable social and economic order for everyone.
SMSV is central cog in the wheel as we open up economies
During the recent and ongoing wave of COVID-19, nine out of every ten people who were hospitalised due to the corona virus, were unvaccinated. It is clear that vaccinations against COVID-19 helps reduce the risk of being hospitalised or dying if one gets infected with corona virus. Dr Ishwar Gilada, Secretary General of OMAG and noted infectious disease expert said in the recently concluded national conference of Indian Association of Paediatricians (PEDICON 2022) that SMSV (Social distancing, Masks, Sanitation, and Vaccination) approach is a central cog in the wheel as we open up social mixing and economic activities and relax COVID-19 protocols. "Around the world emerging data has demonstrated how vaccination has reduced hospitalizations and deaths. More than 90% of the hospitalizations due to the recent Omicron wave were among the unvaccinated," stressed Dr Ishwar Gilada.
Pandemic is not over: WHO
Agrees Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) who said before World TB Day that "After several weeks of declines, reported cases of COVID-19 are once again increasing globally, especially in parts of Asia. These increases are occurring despite reductions in testing in some countries, which means the cases we are seeing are just the tip of the iceberg, and we know that when cases increase, so do deaths. Continued local outbreaks and surges are to be expected, particularly in areas where measures to prevent transmission have been lifted. However, there are unacceptably high levels of mortality in many countries, especially where vaccination levels are low among susceptible populations. Each country is facing a different situation with different challenges but the pandemic is not over. I repeat, the pandemic is not over."
"We call on all countries to remain vigilant, continue to vaccinate, test, sequence, provide early care for patients, and apply common-sense public health measures to protect health workers and the public. We continue to call on everyone to be vaccinated, where vaccines are available, and we continue to work night and day to expand access to vaccines everywhere" added Dr Tedros of WHO.
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