ABSTRACT
Despite the enormous benefits of vaccination, global immunisation coverage progress has stalled and remains suboptimal in many countries. In this commentary, we review the recently published update of the World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund Estimates of National Immunization Coverage. We highlight trends in which, despite substantial gains made in improving immunisation coverage at the global level, there remain numerous challenges with reaching and sustaining optimal coverage. We contextualise the trends by exploring plausible supply- and demand-side root causes. Based on these, we stress the need for targeted, context-appropriate strategies for reaching and maintaining optimal immunisation coverage.
Subject(s)
Immunization Programs , Vaccination Coverage , Child , Global Health , Humans , United Nations , Vaccination , World Health OrganizationABSTRACT
Convalescent plasma is being considered as a potential therapy for COVID-19. We highlight and contextualise the findings of a recent Cochrane rapid review that evaluated the effectiveness and safety of convalescent plasma or hyperimmune immunoglobulin transfusion in the treatment of people with COVID-19. The review found low-certainty evidence of the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of convalescent plasma. As the novel coronavirus continues to spread in South Africa (SA), convalescent plasma may offer a therapeutic ray of hope for mitigating the morbidity and mortality burdens of the disease. Further investigation of the clinical benefits of the therapy in well-designed studies is needed to provide more evidence that will guide COVID-19 treatment decision-making in the SA context.
Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections , Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/therapeutic use , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral , Betacoronavirus/isolation & purification , COVID-19 , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Coronavirus Infections/therapy , Humans , Immunization, Passive/methods , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Pneumonia, Viral/therapy , SARS-CoV-2 , South Africa , Systematic Reviews as Topic , Treatment Outcome , COVID-19 SerotherapyABSTRACT
Convalescent plasma is being considered as a potential therapy for COVID19. We highlight and contextualise the findings of a recent Cochrane rapid review that evaluated the effectiveness and safety of convalescent plasma or hyperimmune immunoglobulin transfusion in the treatment of people with COVID19. The review found lowcertainty evidence of the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of convalescent plasma. As the novel coronavirus continues to spread in South Africa (SA), convalescent plasma may offer a therapeutic ray of hope for mitigating the morbidity and mortality burdens of the disease. Further investigation of the clinical benefits of the therapy in well-designed studies is needed to provide more evidence that will guide COVID-19 treatment decision-making in the SA context
