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The COVID-19 Pandemic—A Potential Role for Antivirals in Mitigating Pandemics.
- Source :
-
Viruses (1999-4915) . Feb2023, Vol. 15 Issue 2, p303. 7p. - Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- The COVID-19 pandemic has served as a stark reminder that outbreaks of novel pathogens (i.e., those not previously encountered by humans) have always plagued mankind and will continue to do so. The COVID-19 pandemic has also taught us that a single exposure to a novel pathogen is typically not sufficient to build robust population immunity that exists against common respiratory viruses. Robust population-level immunity can be achieved through repeated natural infection (typically at the cost of high mortality and overwhelmed public health resources) and/or repeated vaccination (which may be limited by vaccine availability, a country's economic resources, and/or vaccine hesitancy). Here, we suggest that the broader use of antivirals could be a mitigation strategy to limit severe disease and the burden on healthcare systems during widespread virus circulation while allowing the buildup of population immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *COVID-19 pandemic
*HERD immunity
*ANTIVIRAL agents
*VACCINE hesitancy
*MEDICAL care
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19994915
- Volume :
- 15
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Viruses (1999-4915)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 162164638
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3390/v15020303