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24 November, 2022
The critical importance of prevention through vaccination and public health measures is a key theme of Burnet Institute’s submission to the House of Representatives Health Committee Inquiry into Long COVID and Repeated COVID Infections.
Submissions to the Inquiry, which aims to build a picture of the health, social, educational, and economic impacts of long COVID and repeated COVID infections on individuals, families and the Australian community to inform public policy recommendations, closed on 18 November.
Findings in the Burnet submission include:
Burnet submission: Our current approach fosters millions of infections/reinfections in a short time frame, neglecting that 5% or so will suffer debilitating chronic symptoms. The most urgent action is a PM-led pivot to minimize transmission in the community.#LongCovid Inquiry https://t.co/740DdUrIts
— Prof Brendan Crabb AC (@CrabbBrendan) November 24, 2022
Significantly, the submission offers a common sense response to the question relating to the best practices to prevent Long COVID – prevention is better than cure.
“Put simply, the best way to prevent Long COVID is to reduce the number of people getting COVID infection,” the submission states. “This is done through a combination of vaccination and other public health prevention measures, particularly when cases are rising, and treatment.”
The Institute argues in its submission that public health measures promoting community-wide protective behaviours have been under-utilised in Australia.
These include encouraging the use of high-quality face masks or respirators in indoor settings, clean (ventilated and/or filtered) air, working from home where possible and testing before attending large public events.
Burnet’s recommendations to the Inquiry include the need for:
CLICK HERE to read the Burnet Institute submission.
For more information in relation to this news article, please contact:
Director and CEO; Co-Head Malaria Research Laboratory; Chair, Victorian Chapter of the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI)