Published January 30, 2021 6:31pm The international spread of more infectious coronavirus strains has made inoculating a maximum number of people as quickly as possible more urgent than ever, experts say. Vaccines are already being rolled out across 73 countries or territories, with more than 86.5 million doses administered so far, including 26 million in the United States and 22.7 million in China according to an AFP tally Thursday. But with concerns mounting that new strains could evade immunity protection from either prior infection or immunization, the global vaccine drive needs to be fast and flexible if it is going to stay one step ahead of the virus.
Urgent needs of low-income and middle-income countries for COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics thelancet.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thelancet.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Are We Hurtling or Hurdling Towards Herd Immunity for COVID-19?
Vaccines against COVID-19 were developed in record-smashing time, and now that the rollout has begun, attention is returning to herd immunity, in a real rather than hypothetical sense.
Herd immunity refers to the protection against an infectious disease that arises when a critical mass of individuals in a population becomes immune. The pathogen can’t find welcoming bodies, and the epidemic dies out. Once herd immunity is attained, mitigation measures can be relaxed. But if society opens too soon, a second and even third wave of disease can ensue – as we’ve seen.
Peer-reviewed / Simulation or Modelling / People
A new modelling study has estimated that from 2000 to 2030 vaccination against 10 major pathogens - including measles, rotavirus, HPV and hepatitis B - will have prevented 69 million deaths in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs).
The study estimated that, as a result of vaccination programmes, those born in 2019 will experience 72% lower mortality from the 10 diseases over their lifetime than if there was no immunisation.
The greatest impact of vaccination was estimated to occur in children under five - mortality from the 10 diseases in this age group would be 45% higher than currently observed in the absence of vaccination, according to the research.
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Diets low in animal-sourced products reduce the risk of chronic diseases in adults and have a lower environmental footprint
Most types of so-called ‘sustainable diets’, including flexitarian, pescatarian, vegetarian and vegan, are likely to improve your health and have a positive impact on the environment, according to new research, published in Environmental Research Letters.
The study, led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, is the first systematic review addressing the effects on both health and the environment of shifting from current diets to various forms of sustainable diets.
The exact composition of sustainable diets varies greatly but they are typically low in animal-sourced food and high in plant-based food.