Eradication of Covid-19 in the world possible.

By TPN / Lusa, in COVID-19, News 10-08-2021 18:09:00 5 Comments

Global eradication of Covid-19 is “likely viable” thanks to vaccination, public health measures and a global interest in controlling the pandemic, according to a new study.

For the signatories of the study published in BMJ Global Health, health policies and global interest resulting from financial and social crises make eradication of the virus possible, but, according to specialists at the University of Otago Wellington ( New Zealand), the main objectives are to ensure greater vaccination coverage, able to respond quickly to variants. “Although our analysis is preliminary, with several subjective elements, it seems to place the eradication of Covid-19 within the realm of the possible, especially in terms of technical feasibility”, specify the authors of the study, which includes comparative data of technical origin. , socio-political factors and economy of Covid-19, polio and smallpox infections.

The researchers used a three-point scoring system for each of the 17 variables, including availability of a safe and effective vaccine, lifelong immunity, impact of public health measures, and effective government management of control. infections. Political and public concerns regarding economic and social repercussions or acceptance of restrictive measures were also calculated. The mean scores for the study totaled 2.7 for smallpox, 1.6 for Covid-19 and 1.5 for polio. Smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980 and two of the three poliovirus serotypes have also been eradicated worldwide.

Experts recognize that, when it comes to smallpox and polio, the technical challenges of Covid-19 eradication include low vaccine acceptance and the emergence of more transmissible variants. “However, viral evolution has its limits. We must expect that the virus will eventually reach its maximum capacity and that new vaccines will be designed, ”they argue.

The persistence of the virus in animal reservoirs could also thwart the efforts, but that does not appear to be a serious problem, the researchers add. On the other hand, “the unprecedented global interest in disease control and massive investments in pandemic vaccination” is highlighted. Unlike smallpox and polio, Covid-19 benefits from the additional impact of public health measures such as border control, social distancing and the use of masks, which “can be very effective if [they are] well implemented ”.

The elimination of Covid-19 has been achieved and maintained over long periods of time in several parts of Asia, “providing evidence that global eradication is technically possible,” they summarize. Among the future challenges, the study identifies the realization of an international cooperation to fight against “vaccine nationalism”.