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Like ‘safe sex’, protect yourself against this virus too, says expert
There is a certain amount of COVID-19 fatigue and people are raring to go about their normal work and also catch up on many things that have been on hold like parties in the last two years. This is understandable, said an expert, advising that as much as possible they should practise the measures that will keep the virus at bay.
Empathising not only with men, women and children who have been caged in their homes for a long time and also all those who have not been able to earn their livelihood, Prof. Neelika Malavige tells people to be savvy on how they should get about their lives and their livelihoods.
“COVID-19 has taught us that it is no respecter of persons. Many people close to us, family and friends, have died or been critically ill. Now there is the latest ‘Variant of Concern’ Omicron doing the rounds. Be cautious and wise,” urged Prof. Malavige, Head of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, who follows the virus very closely.
It was her team that detected Omicron in the 25-year-old woman who came from Nigeria through sequencing and alerted the Health Ministry on December 3.
She says that we should be armed with knowledge on Omicron which will help us to face it better. “To face this enemy, we should be very well armoured, otherwise it would be like going into battle unarmed.”
Drawing a parallel with “safe sex”, she says that if people threw caution and protection to the winds, they would get pregnant or succumb to sexually-transmitted infections.
“No one says to stop having sex, only to be careful and engage in safe sex to prevent unplanned pregnancies or catching sexually-transmitted diseases,” she says, explaining that people should adopt a similar approach to COVID-19 for some time, while engaging in their day-to-day activities.
Prof. Malavige poses several questions we should ask ourselves.
What do we know about Omicron?
n Even though detected for the first time in the last week of November in southern Africa, three weeks on, it has been found in 60 countries.
n Some of these countries are detecting the new variant in travellers coming in, while many are reporting community transmission within their countries (southern African nations including South Africa, European nations and the United States of America).
Should we worry or not?
- We need to delve into science for the answer – look at the data.
- The data reveal that Omicron is transmitting rapidly.
- Data coming out of the United Kingdom are disturbing – Omicron cases are doubling every three days.
- Omicron can infect those who have had a natural infection from the virus or those who have either got one or even two doses of the vaccine.
- Generally, even in those who are fully vaccinated (with two doses), Omicron spreads rapidly but causes only mild disease and not severe disease or death. However, there are exceptions to this, especially among those who have severe co-morbidities.
- In the unvaccinated, it may cause severe disease. The data on Omicron that it may cause milder disease is when it has occurred in those who are fully vaccinated or in those who have had COVID-19 previously. Therefore, vaccines appear to be doing what they are supposed to do.
- Data from South Africa show that most are getting mild disease but not all. Another factor to keep in mind is that even though vaccination rates are low in Africa, a lot of people have got the infection naturally.
- Prof. Malavige cautions against alleging that even with low vaccinations, there is still only mild infection. This is not valid, because South Africa has had intense transmission of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic.
- 2020 – A large number of people in that country got COVID-19 from the original virus.
- 2021 – More than 75% got infected with the Beta and then the Delta variants.
- It is in this backdrop that people are still getting infected with Omicron and seeing a huge surge of cases.
- In Europe, meanwhile, even though a large percentage of people have been vaccinated, the infection rates are high. But the vaccines are doing their job well – for in those who have got the jab, the illness is asymptomatic (without symptoms) or mild.
Data from other countries on vaccines and boosters:
- With time, the immune response of the two-dose vaccines wanes.
- Therefore, countries which can afford to give a booster are doing so in the light of Omicron, to increase immunity levels.
Getting vaccinated is a social responsibility
Looking at the Sri Lankan situation, Prof. Neelika Malavige says that there are some people who have not got themselves vaccinated due to myths and other beliefs.Vaccination is a key strategy in the war against COVID-19, be it Omicron or any other ‘Variant of Concern’.
“All people eligible for the vaccine should get the vaccination – not only do they owe it to themselves but to all those around them and also as a social responsibility,” says Prof. Malavige, turning the focus on the dismal images coming from other countries (specifically in Europe), where the intensive care units (ICUs) are being flooded with patients who have got infected with COVID-19 because they are unvaccinated.She underscores that this is irresponsible on their part because they are also jeopardizing other people, while urging all those eligible to “go get their booster” as well.
‘Consider outdoor activity, if you need to have a gathering’
When asked how to be safe while letting down the guard a little, Prof. Neelika Malavige says:
- With the season round the corner, if there is a need to arrange a party or gathering, do so in the open, like the beach or outdoors. If there is a need to be indoors, ensure that there is good ventilation by opening all doors and windows.
- If indoors, wear face-masks, resort to hand-hygiene and maintain distancing.
- Work-wise, unless essential, the managements should have online meetings.
- As a common courtesy and respect for others, if you are ill, do not attend any gathering or meet anyone. Stay at home. Parents should do the same if children are ill and not send them to school or tuition classes.
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