Lecture 30: COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Question 1

what are the two response strategies?

Answer 1

control and elimination

Question 2

what is elimination + sub category?

Answer 2

reduce to zero in a country or a region for prolonged periods (measles + polio)

eradication: reduce to zero at a global level permanently (sars, smallpox)

Question 3

control + sub category?

Answer 3

reduce to an acceptable endemic level using feasible means (most serious ids)

mitigation: reduce to avoid overwhelming in the healthcaer system (pandemic flu)
suppression: reduce to minimise negative health impacts (seasonal flu)

Question 4

what is surveillance (define)

Answer 4

continuous systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of health-related data

Question 5

what does surveillance do?

Answer 5

• serve as an early warning system
• enables monitoring and evaluation of impact of an intervention
• monitors and clarifies the epidemiology of health problems, guiding priority setting, planning + evaluation public health policy/strats.

Question 6

what is Reff?

Answer 6

the mean number of additional infections caused by an initial infection at a specific point in time.

1< = case number increase exponentially over time

Question 7

how was equity addressed in the vaccine rollout?

Answer 7

population-wide communications were complemented by communications efforts informed by and channeled to Maori, pacific, disabled people, refugee and migrant communities, vulnerable groups

Question 8

why was communication important?

Answer 8

provide clarity of purpose, and a sense of solidarity

Question 9

what are the 3 essential considerations for effective communictations?

Answer 9

channels; relevant, accessible, trustworthy
message: appropriate, co-designed, tested
messenger: trusted, credible

Question 10

trust in societal leaders

Answer 10

nz > trust in scientists and national health authorities more than journalists and ceos

Question 11

what should i remember?

Answer 11

• scientists + health professionals = highly trusts, which this = responsibility
• communication is an essential scientific skill: 1-1 and to populations. channels –> message –> messenger.
• know your numbers: epidemiology!!!!
• equity is your lens, ternds are your friend
• keep your eye on the big picture