The short version of Australian physician Edward Cliff’s op-ed in the New York Times is that “Zero COVID” is not an achievable goal. Not in Australia. Not anywhere. Here’s his conclusion:
At some point, Australia’s political and health leaders must acknowledge that the country cannot escape Covid forever and must prepare the community to live with Covid.
To do so, Australia must add fuel to its vaccination rollout through incentives; immunization stations in accessible locations such as shopping centers; requiring vaccine passports at venues, for events and for travel; and a targeted marketing campaign to get more people vaccinated.
Australia will also need to keep reasonable public health restrictions for the short to medium term, including indoor masking, avoiding large events and using its test, trace, isolate and quarantine system. As leaders encourage people to adhere to restrictions in the coming weeks, they must simultaneously begin to prepare Australians for the likelihood that there will be high case numbers when restrictions ease. This will be a sizable shift in expectations, given Covid’s relatively low local prevalence so far.
Less than a year ago, people watched Australians enjoy their blissful summer largely free from Covid and from restrictions. Now we watch vaccinated friends in other countries return to a near-normal life amid the harsh reality that Australia may still have months of lockdown ahead. Once the envy of the world, Australia has come to a complete standstill — unable to return to the panacea of Covid zero it once enjoyed, yet far from ready to embrace the Covid normal of tomorrow.
I have always believed that would be the case, again, not just in Australia but everywhere. Rather than trying to achieve “Zero COVID” much more attention needs to be devoted to getting more people vaccinated and what mitigation measures are actually provably effective in controlling the transmission of the disease and keeping the cases minor.
Not everywhere. Zero-covid is achievable is China (post Wuhan) /Taiwan/HK and New Zealand (that’s the list of countries left). It is suppressed reasonably well in South Korea.
The other thing is to get more treatment out to people. The monoclonal antibodies can prevent hospitalization + death in 70% of patients if given early (within 10 days of symptoms). They have been underutilized (my suspicion is due to the politicization of treatments).
Given 75% of adults are vaccinated, and if the mono-clonal bodies were prescribed to anyone who tests positive, hospital systems should not be stressed.
Zero COVID. Vaccinations can be enforced on a Federal level . Biden is going to try because every life matters.
If you want to keep your Federal or Federal contractor related job you’ll submit. You’ll let them inject whatever that is into your body.
Can’t people see that the government is benevolent and if you question that you may be a conspiracy theory .
Looks like President Biden sees eye to eye with Chairman Xi.
Linked article is a pretty fair assessment I think of monoclonal Abs. We have given out hundreds, maybe thousands, of these treatments and are big believers. Acquiring enough drug has been an issue but now that more is available adequate staffing is an issue. Takes a couple of hours and you need space and people. Folks arent real keen on the 4 SC shot routine, especially in the abdomen. Also not really clear who should get it. Early on we limited it to people with risk factors. Now, do we really give it to everyone who gets Covid? Thats thousands of dollars a treatment plus the personnel costs, if you can find them.
The Biden admin has not emphasized it much. I am guessing they dont want to undercut the need for vaccines, which work better, are cheaper and dont need as many personnel. However, docs know it is available.
Steve
Monoclonal antibodies should be emphasized.
I think of it as human psychology — if people know there is a treatment; they are more likely to seek treatment; get tested — which are all good things.
And if they seek treatment and it’s a positive experience; medical professionals get that 1:1 time to convince patients to get the vaccine.
Where are we getting the staff? Who is getting the 1:1 time? Still haven’t answered who we should treat. Staff shortages are a real issue. Local facilities are now paying $30/hour for new CNAs. Do you know how long it takes to train to become a CNA? 6 weeks. Hospitals are paying agency nurses (RNs) up to $400,000/year rates. The prep takes a lot of pharmacy time. (Old one. Don’t know about Regeneron)
Steve
Better a nurse for intravenous injection of monoclonal antibodies then multiples RN’s because they waited until the ICU. As far as I can tell this treatment is still cheaper then ICU.
Who should get treatment is the same population that’s at risk for COVID; over 40 and the immunocompromised under 40. That continues to account for 99% of those who die from the disease. The FDA is criminally restrictive on who should have access to this.
I just think human nature is such that a significant number of people are going to have to get the virus before they will accept a vaccine.
I have seen many people start the flu shot after they have a bout of the flu. Go on a crash diet they were told to do for years only after heart attack, etc.
Why again do 25% of health care workers refuse the vaccine?.
Ignorant?
No, I could tell you what I think but I want to know what you think.