In this section of the newsletter, we provide excerpts of and links to relevant and topical studies, opinion pieces, blogs, and other articles published on leading scientific platforms on health systems, medicine, and allied social sectors, and reputed media platforms.
Dr. Anthony Fauci on holidays, boosters, and the pandemic’s future.
Interview published November 24, 2021 in The New York Times
As people across major parts of the world will be socializing in the upcoming holiday season, even as fears of the spread of the Omicron variant run rife, NYT journalists speak to Dr Anthony Fauci, of the Centre for Disease Control, for a look at what’s in store in the coming year. Dr Fauci is US’ top infectious disease expert. Dr Fauci, while exalting the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines, also speaks about growing evidence of immunity waning over time. In this context, Dr Fauci talks about a range of issues right from the need for booster doses to a possibility of newer variants.
Heavily mutated Omicron variant puts scientists on alert
News article published November 25, 2021 in Nature
With growing concerns around the emergence of the Omicron variant, researchers are racing to determine whether it poses a threat to COVID vaccines’ effectiveness. The news article highlights the changes in the spike protein of the virus and what that could possibly imply for effectiveness of existing vaccines.
Editorial published December 4, 2021 in The Lancet
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, achieving Universal Health Coverage was a top priority in global health, underpinning Sustainable Development Goal 3 to ensure health and wellbeing for all. The editorial throws light on the fact that as countries’ focus shifts on to the pandemic, the world’s health community has ended up neglecting the need to sustain the momentum for achieving UHC.