ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has plagued the world for over three years since discovering the causative virus, SARS-CoV-2, in China. The rampant spread of the virus led to the loss of livelihoods of millions across the globe. This public health emergency prompted the rapid development of vaccines and treatments to fight against viral infection. Vaccines against the viral infection started rolling out in late 2020, and the distribution of the vaccines worldwide managed to reduce the symptoms of COVID-19 and prevent outbreaks in local communities. However, COVID-19 infections are still prevalent, with patients suffering from severe symptoms which require oxygen support or mechanical ventilation. Thus, therapeutic agents for COVID-19 play a significant role in reducing the risk of disease progression into severe disease and improving hospitalized patients' clinical outcomes. Existing drugs such as remdesivir, molnupiravir, baricitinib, anakinra, and tocilizumab have been repurposed to treat COVID-19 earlier during the pandemic to meet the urgent demand for treatment. There are also novel antiviral and immunomodulating treatments (nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir, ensitrelvir, regdanvimab, sotrovimab, and vilobelimab) that were developed during the pandemic to fight against COVID-19 infections. These therapeutic agents have been reported to be effective and safe for use to treat COVID-19 infections of different severity. Nevertheless, continuous surveillance is imperative in ensuring that these treatment methods maintain efficacy and safety profiles in treating COVID-19 caused by different variants of the virus. © 2023, HH Publisher. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Within ASEAN, Brunei is one of the low population density nations successfully combating the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. As of 4th January 2023, over 2.6 hundred thousand confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 225 deaths, had been reported in Brunei. This paper outlines the COVID-19 trends in Brunei and strategies taken by the health authorities to contain the pandemic. Three waves of COVID-19 have hit Brunei, with the first case of COVID-19 reported on 9th March 2020. The adoption of the "whole of nation approach” has proven to be effective in managing the outbreak. Early and decisive interventions taken by authorities and the public's cooperation have been a remarkable success story. The key success factors are effective pandemic containment measures, public communication strategy, and enhanced surveillance mechanisms supported by the mass testing program and contact tracing. A national vaccination strategy ensuring adequate vaccine distribution and effective administration has been rolled out to render lasting protection against the infection. National COVID-19 Recovery Plan Framework and a gradual COVID-19 de-escalation plan were implemented to ensure a smoother transition to the new normal. This review provides valuable insights into the development of a robust pandemic leadership model and highlights the lessons and strategies that other countries can adopt for any future uncertainties. © 2023, HH Publisher. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has quickly become the most significant public health phenomenon, effectively eclipsing the H1N1 and Ebola crises that came before it. It can spread rapidly and has caused the death and disability of many worldwide. Vaccines are our most effective line of defense against the rapidly spreading and mutating virion. Still, there is significant vaccine hesitancy among those with autoimmune conditions who fear the vaccine may cause them more harm than good. This scoping review explores the safety, outcomes, and effects of COVID-19 vaccines in autoimmune patients. Online databases;Pubmed, Ovid Medline, and Scopus were used to search published literature evaluating the effectiveness and side effects of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with autoimmune conditions. The search results were limited to 4 distinct autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, and myasthenia gravis). Thirty-seven studies were retrieved and assessed on the safety, effects, and outcomes of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with the chosen autoimmune conditions. Overall, the risk of flares and the development of severe side effects after vaccination was low. Most autoimmune patients showed a good antibody response to vaccination, especially after the second dose. This review provides a favorable impact of vaccination in patients with autoimmune conditions. © 2022, HH Publisher. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
There is an increase in mental health sequelae following COVID-19 infection, with some studies showing a higher prevalence rate of psychiatric sequelae in post-COVID-19 survivors than in the general population. This review discusses the possible causes, prevalence, and risk factors of COVID-19 associated psychological manifestations, namely anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although the exact cause is yet to be determined, it is likely multifactorial involving environmental, biological, and psychological factors due to the pandemic. Variation exists for risk factors and prevalence, but the female gender and psychiatric disorder history seem to be consistent risk factors across several studies. While conventional psychotropic medications are the common therapeutic intervention, probiotics could be a potential adjunct treatment to prevent and treat COVID-19 and its associated psychological manifestations. Their anti-inflammatory effects have been seen directly via reducing plasma concentration of proinflammatory cytokines or indirectly via the suppression within the kynurenine pathway and restoration of gut permeability. Additionally, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are crucial gut microbial metabolites with essential roles, including signaling along the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis, maintaining blood-brain barrier’s (BBB) integrity, neuronal functions, neurotransmitters, and neurotrophic factors modulation. © 2022, HH Publisher. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
South Africa is one of the countries heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As of 9 January 2022, over 3.5 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported, and 93 551 deaths have been recorded in the country. The South African healthcare system faced a lack of essential resources and financial burdens by outbreaks and its new variant of concern (VOC), the Omicron. The local government has done as much as possible to control the spread of the virus in the local communities by quickly implementing lockdowns and enforcing movement restrictions. An eight-stage program to combat COVID-19 and a national vaccination strategy was also developed soon to manage the Coronavirus spread in the country better. As the country struggles to secure and administer COVID-19 vaccines to its people, the Coronavirus has been rapidly mutating and causing new waves of infections within the nation. The COVID-19 experience in South Africa demonstrates the great importance of equitable access to medicine, medical equipment, and vaccines globally. Equitable access to these essential resources is critical to prevent the virus spread across borders and reduce mortality rates worldwide. © 2022, HH Publisher. All rights reserved.