Controlling Covid-19 Needs More Than Just A Vaccine; It Requires An Integrated Control Strategy

Abstract

The ongoing worldwide pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), which outbroke in December 2019 in China (Wuhan) and quickly spread around the world, is the most widespread and devastating infection in the present time [1]. This virus produces a severe lower respiratory tract infection, with viral pneumonia occurring in roughly 75% of COVID-19 hospitalized patients. Despite the fact that the mortality rate associated with COVID-19 is only 2%, much less than the earlier zoonotic coronavirus epidemics such as 10 % for Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and 30% for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) [2], and. 50% for Ebola. Accordingly, COVID-19 is not the deadliest viral disease. However, COVID-19 is more contagious than SARS and MERS and its high spread rate is fraught with hazards, requiring stringent policies and plans [3]. Interestingly, the wide range of animal species vulnerable to COVID-19 clearly implies that these viruses have the potential to overcome the species barriers, especially given the frequent interactions between predators and other small mammals that might aid interspecies transmission [4]. The scientific community has put forth a lot of efforts to combat this pandemic, and as a result, a range of vaccines have been developed. COVID-19 variants are constantly emerging, which is unfortunate. Without intervention, vaccination against COVID-19 alone could lead to continued dissemination and the generation of new variants [5], necessitating the continuous use of booster doses. In addition to continuing to develop more effective vaccinations, new integrated strategies must be established. Accordingly, the suggested integrative strategy should include: