PANDEMIC AND POSTPANDEMIC

Abstract

Since the last influenza pandemic more than a century ago no one expected a new pandemic with such high mortality. At the beginning of 2020, hasty resolutions had to be taken against the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Since then, there have been many changes as new knowledge was generated. An unprecedented vaccination process began in the world. The different countries took uncoordinated measures, and the World Health Organization (WHO) belatedly released its recommendations. The changes have occurred in the better understanding of the contagion routes, in the evolution of the disease in terms of various complications and post-covid clinical syndromes. Also in the diagnostic methods, in the treatment, and mortality risk factors. The pandemic affected the economy not only of countries but also of people. Due to numerous patients with complications, there was an acceleration of bacterial resistance. The education was affected at all levels. The interpretations of the press and politicians, including about vaccination, created confusion among the citizens. The world was not prepared and the installed capacity of the health systems was not enough. Vaccination results are being fully evaluated in vaccinated people with or without previous viral infection, as well as its efficacy against virus mutations. There were negative elements, difficulties and socioeconomic inequalities, but also positive elements, such as a decrease in other respiratory diseases, crime and perinatal mortality. If we take advantage of the lessons we will be better prepared for future pandemics. In our country, with the measures of the central and provincial governments, with the advice of infectologists and epidemiologists and with vaccination, herd immunity is being achieved. But the creature hasn’t been defeated yet. We are surrounded by countries with high incidence and new variants. It is necessary to know for how long the various vaccines protect against the different variants, as well as whether, for certain subjects, a supplementary dose would be necessary or not.