A new vaccine to battle Covid-19 -- NEJM editorial

‘That the mRNA-1273 Covid-19 and the BNT162b2 Covid-19 vaccines protect with near-identical 94 to 95% vaccine efficacies — and that both vaccines were developed and tested in less than a year — are extraordinary scientific and medical triumphs. This happened because the scientific community was prepared from years of technology development for other vaccines, such as those against HIV, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and Zika, and because clinical trials consortia were established that rapidly carried out Covid-19 efficacy trials. If mRNA-LNP vaccines significantly contribute to control of the pandemic, mRNA technology has the potential to radically change vaccine design for future viral outbreaks.

‘Although the Covid-19 pandemic is currently raging, the prospects for control of this and future pandemics are bright. The recent FDA issuance of EUAs for these extraordinarily protective vaccines provide us with much-needed hope at a time when so many are suffering. The next challenge is to get these and the next Covid-19 vaccines to the people most at risk as quickly as possible.’

Read here (New England Journal of Medicine, Feb 4, 2020)

Covid-19 has shown us that good health is not just down to biology

‘Of all the lessons we’ve learned from this pandemic, the most significant is how unequal its effects have been. Wealth, it turns out, is the best shielding strategy from Covid-19. As poorer people crowded together in cramped housing, the rich escaped to their country retreats. Two of the largest risk factors for dying from Covid-19 are being from a deprived background and being from a minority-ethnic background, pointing to the underlying role of social inequalities, housing conditions and occupation.

\‘Our society’s recovery from this disease should be centred on building more equal, resilient societies, where people in all parts of the world have access to both protection from the disease and access to research developments. It all starts with government. At the end of a gruelling 11 months, I’m left with Abraham Lincoln’s words in my mind: the pandemic has shown that we need “government of the people, by the people, for the people” – not just government for the wealthy elite. Perhaps that’s the strongest legacy of Covid-19.’

Read here (The Guardian, Dec 25, 2020)

Cate Blanchett: ‘Covid-19 has ravaged the whole idea of small government’

In this extract from her essay collection Upturn, the actor considers the disruptions of the pandemic and the renewed fervour for social and economic justice...

‘For the arts, I fear the good old days of root and soil porous gateway-ism are a thing of the past. The relationship between artist and audience has changed fundamentally. The tools of the future on hand today, from selfies to Zoom, are just awkward attempts to grab back the surface appearance of connectivity. Real connectivity will need to find a new way. The good news is, it will – and it will be fascinating and illuminating and confronting.’

Read here (The Guardian, Oct 29, 2020)

Paul Garner: For 7 weeks I have been through a roller coaster of ill health, extreme emotions, and utter exhaustion

‘In mid March I developed covid-19. For almost seven weeks I have been through a roller coaster of ill health, extreme emotions, and utter exhaustion. Although not hospitalised, it has been frightening and long. The illness ebbs and flows, but never goes away. Health professionals, employers, partners, and people with the disease need to know that this illness can last for weeks, and the long tail is not some “post-viral fatigue syndrome”—it is the disease. People who have a more protracted illness need help to understand and cope with the constantly shifting, bizarre symptoms, and their unpredictable course.

‘The aim of this piece is to get this message out: for some people the illness goes on for a few weeks. Symptoms come and go, are strange and frightening. The exhaustion is severe, real, and part of the illness. And we all need support and love from the community around us.’

Read here (BMJ Opinion, May 5, 2020)

The invisible pandemic: Our most important task is not to stop spread but to concentrate on giving the unfortunate victims optimal care

‘COVID-19 is a disease that is highly infectious and spreads rapidly through society. It is often quite symptomless and might pass unnoticed, but it also causes severe disease, and even death, in a proportion of the population, and our most important task is not to stop spread, which is all but futile, but to concentrate on giving the unfortunate victims optimal care.’

Read here (The Lancet, May 5, 2020)

Covid-19 is an opportunity for gender equality within the workplace and at home

‘Crisis can be an opportunity for gendered change: WW1 was a watershed moment for women’s emancipation with large swathes being added to the workforce, and the creation of women’s institutes, which latterly led to women’s suffrage. We hope that covid-19 can be another such movement for greater gender-equality in the workplace. To do so we need to stop apologising for personal lives, and let’s see more children on conference calls.’

Read here (BMJ Opinion, April 15, 2020)

Report of special survey on effects of COVID-19 on economy & individual - Round 1

‘This report provides a summary of findings Special Survey “Effect of Covid-19 on the Economy and Individual” - Round 1, was conducted online by the Department of Statistics, Malaysia for the period 23rd - 31 March 2020. This survey consists of 3 modules and 21 questions. A total of 168,182 respondents aged 15 years and above has participated in this survey. The analysis presented are based on respondent’s feedback that includes qualitative personal opinion on economics, employment and spending pattern.’

Read here (Department of Statistics Malaysia, DOSM, April 10?, 2020)