ISLAMABAD (27 July 2021): Effective and mass level vaccination to reduce the impacts of new variants, of COVID-19 as it has seen a spread at an alarming rate. The experts from health and social sectors said this while speaking at webinar ‘The Delta Variant; Covid-19 pandemic’ organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here on Tuesday.
Dr Javed Akram, VC Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore, emphasized that we need to invest more in our healthcare sector to protect our population. The Delta variant of COVID-19 has been noticed to absorb the virus in greater densities than the previous variants with more damaging effect on the immune system
He added further that effective and mass level vaccination to create herd immunity on global level is the only way forward to face the pandemic. The vaccines that are being administered in Pakistan are reasonably effective in maintaining the immunogenicity against the new variants, he concluded.
Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director, SDP, shared the fact with the participants that the Delta variant is reportedly affecting the vaccinated people as well though most with mild symptoms or asymptomatic but serve as silent carrier to affect non-vaccinated population.
“AJK election campaign and local tourism on Eid ul Adha may aggravate the situation further in the coming days,” Dr Suleri said. However, the government policies such as smart lockdown has been able to contain the adverse effects of the pandemic in terms of food crises, economic recession and in health sector.
Prof Dr Shehzad Ali Khan, VC Health Services Academy, was of view that most part of the Europe and USA could now go back to normal life because of massive vaccination. Therefore, our focus vaccinating urban population is our key focus as they are the main spreaders as well as the mood-setters for rural populations.
Dr Rana Jawad Asghar, CEO Global Health Strategies, emphasized that Government needs to take ownership of the COVID-19 related SOPs’ observance at every level. The prominent figures must avert engaging with the public without any precautions to lead from the front in this regard. Dr Nabila Zaka, Director ORIC Health Services Academy, highlighted that the existing gender inequalities are further exacerbated in the time of pandemic and the issue needs to be redressed through the right interventions.
