covid public health emergency

covid public health emergency

The Importance of Vaccination during the COVID-19 Pandemic

1. The Impact of COVID-19 on Public Health

When examining the effects of COVID-19 on public health, it is evident how negatively it has impacted individuals and communities. The pandemic has led to immense psychological and physical stress, affecting large demographics of people, and it will likely result in long-term consequences for public health. This can be seen from the measures implemented to reduce the spread and the subsequent effects of these. The implementation of lockdowns or movement control orders has led to job losses and financial difficulties. This disproportionately affects lower-income families and individuals, and this has negative implications for mental health and well-being. Financial insecurity can lead to anxiety, depression, and increases the risk of substance misuse. Furthermore, the closure of schools has robbed children of the opportunity to maximize their education, potentially leading to long-term effects on future employability and income. It is also harder to monitor and provide assistance to children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Due to children being less likely to suffer severe illness from COVID-19, the education sector is unlikely to be a priority in terms of reopening when considering public health and safety. This has a large opportunity cost with what would be gained from opening education institutions, with what is currently being missed out from the closure and its effects on future generations. High rates of unemployment can also take their toll on mental health, and areas of industry that are deemed unsafe to resume operation due to the risk of disease spread will face ongoing financial strain. The infection and death rates from COVID-19 have had wide-ranging effects on global public health. People of all ages and backgrounds are at risk of infection. However, the risk of adverse outcomes from COVID-19, including death, increases with age and in those with certain chronic conditions. This has led to groups such as the elderly and those with multiple comorbidities facing prolonged periods of fear and social isolation. Many elective healthcare services have also been suspended to reallocate resources to treating COVID-19 and to reduce the risk of disease spread. These cancellations and postponements of essential preventive and clinical services will result in an increase in illness and disease burden from other health conditions, and this is often overlooked when considering the impact of COVID-19 on public health. This shifts many people from a state of good health to poor health, and it increases health disparities as people with lower income or education tend to have higher rates of chronic disease and are less likely to access healthcare.

2. Understanding the Role of Vaccination

The word ‘vaccination’ originated from the Latin word ‘vacca’ meaning ‘cow.’ When Edward Jenner created the smallpox vaccine in the 18th century, he used the cowpox virus, hence the name. Vaccines work by imitating an infection. This stimulates the immune system to produce T-lymphocytes and antibodies. If a vaccinated person is later exposed to the disease, immunity is already in place to destroy the virus. Herd immunity is the indirect protection from infectious disease that happens when a population becomes immune to the disease, whether through vaccination or previous infections, so that the spread of disease is unlikely. This explains why experts have been stressing the importance of vaccinating the masses in order to hinder and stop the spread of COVID-19. Step by step, we are getting closer to restoring life to the way it used to be, and it is crucial in the process of COVID-19 prevention to understand the virus and how it behaves. As of May 2021, dozens of COVID-19 vaccines have been authorized and approved for emergency or full use. Despite this, the Pfizer vaccine, which was developed by BioNTech, has been used in the UK. It was the first vaccine that has been authorized for emergency use to prevent COVID-19 in those aged 16 and older and has also been well established across the globe in many countries. This all being part of a broad approach of immunization to protect larger proportions of populations or ‘herd immunity.’ PHE data recently demonstrated the full impact on the immunization program in England. COVID-19 vaccinations have already prevented around 11.7 million infections and 37,000 deaths in England alone.

3. Benefits of COVID-19 Vaccination

Tremendous odds of harm from Covid versus the small risk from the vaccines. Disorders that follow these vaccines are rare. Data from the USA today, through July 30th, 2021, states over 34 million cases of Covid reported to the CDC. 0.5% of those Covid cases died. 2% of those Covid cases used oxygen or a ventilator. Approximately 20% of those who recover from Covid have long-term symptoms lasting longer than 6-8 weeks. Long-haulers’ symptoms may last for several weeks after the infection or may be entirely new symptoms beginning two or more weeks after the onset of COVID-19. A recent study that has not yet been peer-reviewed found that up to 1 in 2 recoverees had memory impairment, sleep issues, or even a decline in cognitive function. Some people were unable to return to work. Now let’s think about the risk from the vaccines. Two vaccines have been pulled from the market. The Johnson and Johnson vaccine had a possible risk of extra blood clots with low platelets, and the AstraZeneca vaccine had the same blood clot disorder. Although extremely serious, the clotting events are still much rarer than the clotting impacts of having Covid-19. Winning the lottery is about a 1 in a million chance, and still, there are many winners. The risk of getting a blood clot from the J and J vaccine is about 1 in 989,000 people vaccinated. For the AstraZeneca vaccine, it would be 1 in every 50-60,000 vaccinees. Now that seems somewhat high of a risk, but guess what? Your risk of getting a blood clot from Covid is about 20% occurring clotting in the legs, 25% with the clot moving to the lungs, and 20% having blockages in the arteries of the lungs. Treatments for blood clots vary from medications to hospitalization and may require rules out of other coagulopathies, which are disorders causing decreased blood clotting. Now with huge fractions of the lower risk/memory issue long-haul symptoms, it would be far better getting the vaccine instead of facing the odds of getting Covid.

4. Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy and Misinformation

Others are on the fence about vaccination, with their intent being quite malleable but leaning toward refusal for a variety of reasons. This is where misinformation is a pivotal issue that can make or break vaccination strategy. A portion of vaccine hesitant individuals are misinformed, with their concerns being rooted in false information rather than concrete anti-vaccination beliefs. The ramifications of this, whether intentional or not, are that the lines between vaccine refusal and waiting until a more appropriate time become blurred. Misinformation could lead individuals who intended to get vaccinated to instead remain unvaccinated for an indefinite amount of time, out of concerns that the vaccine is unsafe. To combat this, it is necessary to provide clean and transparent information to the public about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. This involves a direct approach to debunking myths and misinformation, and thorough explanation of the rationale behind vaccine policy and safety standards.

There are also those who do not intend to get vaccinated. Regardless of their opinion about vaccination itself, these individuals are disinterested because they believe that the situation is irrelevant to them. In the context of COVID-19 and the widespread vaccination necessary to stop the spread, perception of relevance is firmly tied to facts about transmission and personal risk. To proactively change such beliefs, it is necessary to communicate the widespread effects of COVID-19 and the risks posed to individuals who are unvaccinated. This requires education not only for the vaccine hesitant, but a broad campaign to ensure that everyone has accurate information on COVID-19 and vaccination. This highlights how such risk communication is important for preventing COVID-19 all around, and effective vaccination strategy is key to such efforts.

5. Promoting Vaccination for a Safer Future

COVID-19 can cause serious ongoing health conditions and can lead to long-term complications. Getting vaccinated can prevent you from getting sick and severely ill with COVID-19, reducing the risk of both short-term and long-term health effects. People who are at higher risk of severe COVID-19, either due to their age or a chronic medical condition, should get vaccinated as soon as possible. It is equally important for these people to avoid exposure to COVID-19 through following public health advice and measures identified by their healthcare provider. Measures to prevent exposure should be taken in the home, community, and workplace. These could include wearing a mask, socially distancing, and the use of personal protective equipment.

The Australian Government has launched a campaign to promote COVID-19 vaccination, aiming to increase acceptance and uptake of the vaccine. This campaign provides evidence-based vaccine information to the general public, and resources for vaccine providers. It will address common questions and concerns about COVID-19 vaccination, inform Australians about the progress of the vaccination program, and instill confidence in the vaccines.

Promoting vaccination is an essential factor for a safer future as vaccines are vital for controlling the pandemic and helping societies to return to normal. Many people may be hesitant to get vaccinated, or may want to wait until others have received their vaccines first. It is important to persuade these people to get vaccinated as soon as possible, in order to protect themselves and the community.