Crucial to be prepared for future pandemics

AS THE impact of the coronavirus on the country ebbs and flows, it is crucial to plan now for future pandemics to be better prepared should the worst-case scenario become a reality.

A year after the discovery of patient zero in the country, we are better off in terms of knowledge and the collection of scientific data to fight this pandemic.

Epidemiologists have been fighting the HIV/Aids pandemic for decades in this country but only a select few anticipated the devastating effects of Covid-19.

Yet the nature of pandemics shows us that they will be around for a long time and there is always the threat of new pandemics finding their way to countries, especially in the era of globalisation.

While the focus is justifiably on fighting Covid-19 and distributing the vaccine to enough South Africans to create herd immunity, there is also a critical need for biotechnology so that the country can build a vaccine from scratch.

The rapid response to the pandemic with hard lockdowns and restrictions on civil liberties were necessary to prevent higher infection numbers and greater loss of life.

All countries need vaccine research facilities so that vaccinations of a large number of their population can start as soon as possible. This is where investment should go.

The creation of the different vaccines being used to fight Covid-19 is a collaboration of different countries and their foremost experts on pandemics.

As the discussion over vaccine nationalism rages on, the solution to the devastating pandemic has come from the collective input of different nations. As the world population grows, future pandemics are a distinct possibility. Taking the time to prepare for these eventualities will be a gift for future generations.