LETTERS: Vaccination, diagnostics and public health tools have helped us survive the Covid-19 pandemic in the past two years.
We have been able to control many strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus with vaccination. More than 68.5 per cent of adults have received a Covid-19 vaccine booster dose.
Recently, the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants have emerged as the dominant Omicron strains.
These sub-variants have gene mutations that make them more infectious, leading to increased transmissibility and pathogenicity.
Antibodies from vaccines are less effective against these sub-variants.
Neutralising antibodies are essential in preventing infection. The BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants are able to escape the neutralising antibodies.
The New England Journal of Medicine publication on July 7 reports that in the vaccinated population, the neutralising antibodies against BA.4 and BA.5 were 21 times lower than antibodies against the original Wuhan WA1 SARS-CoV-2 strain.
The good news is that the vaccine still protects against severe disease. This is evidenced by the low death rate in Malaysia and other countries even though there is a spike in the number of infections.
It is a "war" against the changing virus and human immunity. It is proven, however, that we can win the race and that vaccination protects us from severe illness.
Therefore, we should not take this lightly. We must protect the elderly and other vulnerable people.
Another good news is that an antiviral medication called Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir) is available for high-risk patients, thanks to the proactive step taken by the Health Ministry.
This drug is known to reduce hospitalisation due to Covid-19 in high-risk patients. High-risk individuals aged 18 and above with categories 2 or 3 infections who do not need oxygen therapy are eligible for this treatment.
The following are six measures to help us deal with the spike in infections.
First, we should be vigilant and not let our guard down so that we can avoid being infected.
This requires us to always wear a face mask indoors. Use a hand sanitiser or wash your hands frequently and follow the standard operating procedures.
Avoid crowded places. We should perform Covid-19 self-tests if we experience symptoms. Remember: test, report, isolate, inform and seek medical help if you have Covid-19 symptoms.
Second, only 68.5 per cent of adults have received a Covid-19 vaccine booster dose. Vaccines reduce the severity of infection, hence booster doses are encouraged for the 31.5 per cent of adults who have not received a shot.
Third, maintain your health by eating a healthy diet. Exercise regularly and ensure you get adequate amounts of zinc, Vitamin C and Vitamin D to fight respiratory diseases and enhance healing.
Fourth, protect the elders. The few people who have succumbed to Covid-19 in the current phase of this pandemic are above 60.
Anyone with non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, obesity and heart problems must monitor their health.
Fifth, to prevent the spread of infection, we should ensure proper ventilation at home and at the workplace.
Sixth, to protect the population against future coronavirus infections, research on pan-coronavirus vaccines must be accelerated.
Hopefully, we are in the last phase of the war against Covid-19.
We can win the fight against the ever-changing Covid-19 virus with vaccination, wearing face masks, avoiding crowded places, following a healthy diet and maintaining good health.
DR RAVICHANDRAN MANICKAM
Senior professor and dean, Faculty of Applied Sciences, director of the Centre of Excellence for Vaccine Development and chairman of the Covid-19 Task Force, AIMST University
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times