AMI welcomes the positive data emerging on COVID-19 vaccine candidates including those developed by Pfizer/BioNtech, Moderna, and Oxford/AstraZeneca. The situation is evolving rapidly and further health technologies are expected to come on stream in the coming weeks and months.

Our concern, however, is that the projected vaccine supplies suggest that just over one third of the global population can be vaccinated by the end of 2021, and that the majority of people living in low-income countries will not have access to a vaccine against COVID-19 until 2023 or 2024.4

 It is crucial that attention turns to ensuring that we have affordable and equitable access to approved vaccines and other health technologies globally. Such global access is needed to bring an end to COVID-19. To achieve this, AMI is calling upon the Irish Government to support the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) as soon as possible.

https://globalhealth.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/AMI_C_TAP_Policy_Doc.pdf

AddictionResources.net has a mission is to break down the barriers and stigmas that surround substance abuse with free, accurate, and valuable information. 

If you would like to find out more please click here: https://www.addictionresource.net/ 

“The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis support physical distancing of 1 m or more and provide quantitative estimates for models and contact tracing to inform policy. Optimum use of face masks, respirators, and eye protection in public and health-care settings should be informed by these findings and contextual factors. Robust randomised trials are needed to better inform the evidence for these interventions, but this systematic appraisal of currently best available evidence might inform interim guidance.”

Read full article

This document provides guidance on: 

• Potential transmission of COVID-19 via food
• Awareness of COVID-19 symptoms
• Preventing the spread of COVID19 in the work environment
• Use of disposable gloves
• Physical distancing in the work environment
• COVID-19 illness in the workplace
• ETC

Download full WHO Guideline Document HERE

Available in the Following other Languages:

French
Spanish
Russian
Arabic

“When health systems are overwhelmed, both direct mortality from an outbreak and indirect mortality from vaccine-preventable and treatable conditions increase dramatically. Countries will need to make difficult decisions to balance the demands of responding directly to COVID-19, while simultaneously engaging in strategic planning and coordinated action to maintain essential health service delivery, mitigating the risk of system collapse.

This document expands on the content of the Operational planning guidelines to support country preparedness and response, and provides guidance on a set of targeted immediate actions that countries should consider at national, regional, and local level to reorganize and maintain access to high-quality essential health services for all.”

FIND FULL DOCUMENT

This article published by JAMA this month outlines the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic, and summarises several journal articles covering the reproductive rate of the virus in various countries.

READ FULL ARTICLE

“Islam, Judaism and Christianity come together over COVID-19”

To slow the spread of the virus, Faith Leaders of Religions from all over the world taken to media, email and radio to conduct daily prayers and worship, mobilize individual volunteers to serve the elderly and at risk.

They have engaged in discussions surrounding personal well-being and found new ways to communicate to our communities the importance of listening to the safety guidelines promoted by governments and the World Health Organization (WHO).

READ ARTICLE ABOUT IT/FIND PODCAST HERE

13 May 2020

“Although the COVID-19 crisis is, in the first instance, a physical health crisis, it  as the seeds of a major mental health crisis as well, if action is not taken. Good mental health is critical to the functioning of society at the best of times. It must be front and centre of every country’s response to and recovery from the
COVID-19 pandemic. The mental health and wellbeing of whole societies have been severely impacted by this crisis and are a priority to be addressed urgently.”

READ FULL POLICY BRIEF

Comparative Immunologist and Professor of Biology (specializing in Immunology), University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

As part of her blog, Professor Erin Bromage has posted guidelines on the risk factors for COVID-19 from the American perspective and how to mitigate risk of contracting it.

READ FULL POST HERE

A Global Collaboration between BMGF; CEPI; Gavi; Global Fund; UNITAID; Wellcome Trust; WHO; private sector partners & other stakeholders; to Accelerate the Development, Production and Equitable Access to New COVID-19 diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.

FIND FULL DOCUMENT

This document brings to attention key health and human rights considerations with regards to COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights the importance of integrating a human rights based approach in response to COVID-19. It provides key considerations in relation to addressing stigma and discrimination, prevention of violence against women, support for vulnerable populations; quarantine and restrictive measures and shortages of supplies and equipment. It also highlights human rights obligations with regards to global cooperation to address COVID-19.

FIND FULL DOCUMENT

This report sets out the framework for the United Nations’ urgent socio-economic support to countries and societies in the face of COVID-19, putting in practice the UN Secretary-General’s Shared Responsibility, Global Solidarity report. It is one of three critical components of the UN’s efforts to save lives, protect people, and rebuild better, alongside the health response, led by the World Health Organization (WHO), and the humanitarian response, as detailed in the UN-led COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan.

FIND REPORT HERE

Reports and Journal Articles

Download ICNARC report on COVID-19 in critical care

Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre

Considerations and guidance in designing equity-relevant clinical trials

PMC

COVID-19 situation update for the WHO European Region

WHO

News Articles

Coronavirus Treatment Developed By Gilead Sciences Granted “Rare Disease” Status, Potentially Limiting Affordability

The Intercept

Gilead Withdraws Request for Special Orphan Status on Experimental Virus Treatment

New York Times

Other Language Resources

Epidemia COVID-19 – Epicentro

Italian

Gobierno de España

Spanish

“The joint European Roadmap towards lifting COVID-19 containment measures, presented by the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council, responds to the European Council Members’ call for an exit strategy that is coordinated with Member States and that will prepare the ground for a comprehensive recovery plan and unprecedented investment.”

READ FULL DOCUMENT HERE

Disinfecting with bleach guidance

The annual Access to Medicines conference was originally planned as a full day, live event in the RCSI Dublin on World Health Day, 7th April 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the live event has been rescheduled for later in 2020, date TBC. 
Instead, this Tuesday the 7th of April, AMI conducted a three-hour online Conference, which was attended by 289 live attendees, along with 21 attendees watching the youtube livestream. Below is a selection of media updates,OpEds etc. in response to the online conference.

Access to Medicines 07/04/2020 Full Youtube Live stream

AMI Key Correspondent Pieces

Ashley Scott, IGHN KC – AMI Live Web Conference 2020 – Speaker Summaries

Ellen Corby, IGHN – “We need to put health before profits, access before patents, transparency of price before trade secrets…” – An overview of Access to Medicine’s Live Conference 2020

Radio/Podcast Pieces

Radio Kerry – Profit Can’t be Put Before Patients – April 8th, 2020

News Articles/ OpEds: 

Irish Times – “Coronavirus: Vaccines need scientific scrutiny despite global rush, warns expert”

The Times – “Governments must act to ensure vaccines are available to all”

The Echo – “COVID-19 vaccine at least 18 months away but other drugs hold promise”

COVID-19: Spread Solidarity and love, not fear and stigma

A guide published by Nadine Ferris France from IGHN contains pertinent information around stigma and discrimination during this novel pandemic. 

Stigma, including self-stigma is like a deadly virus and it can kill. It is pervasive and it’s also universal. This guide contains information on what stigma and self-stigma can lead to and how we can communicate and share on social media. 

” When this is all over, do you want to look back and see yourself as someone who coped well, worked to help others, to be compassionate and kind, or do you want to look back and see how you contributed to the suffering by spreading fear and stigma?” 

https://globalhealth.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/stigma_and_covid-19.pdf

We have analysed a few studies and have attached the document below. 

Overall the results were difficult to interpret overall. The numbers are small and results are incomplete as they did not include patients who are still in ICU.  Furthermore not all those in ICU received mechanical ventilation.

 China study studies are not that informative.  The UK may be the closest to the true picture (about 50% survival) but they are still early findings.    

We have made the following comments below:

• Hospitals should prioritise patients with the best chance of survival as coronavirus overwhelms the health service, even where families disagree.  This is Medical Council advice to doctors in Ireland: “In making decisions based on the principle of prioritising the use of scarce resources to treat those patients most likely to survive, more lives are likely to be preserved,” it has said.  This appraisal of the potential benefits a treatment might provide to different patient “lies within the scope of experienced intensive care medicine doctors”.  However, “patients, families or allied may sometime hold different views”.  Allocation of “finite” healthcare resources in a way that is equitable and just “will present difficult choices”. “Doctors have a duty to use resources prudently and fairly, to produce the most benefits possible for individuals served by those interventions.”  This applies particularly to intensive care.
• Survival rates of those admitted to intensive care will be in worse in hospitals which do not normally provide this service.  Use of current or additional ventilators depends on having skilled staff who are trained to use them.  It follows that survival in LICs is likely to be much lower than HICs.
• Patients may remain on ventilators for many days and this reduces availability for others.  This is another reason only to put those on ventilators who are likely to survive.
• A more fundamental decision is not to admit those to hospital in the first place if they are unlikely to benefit.  This can help avoid a difficult decision on whether to ventilate after admission.

Resources:

https://globalhealth.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/ICNARC-COVID-19-report-2020-03-27.pdf

https://globalhealth.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Clinical-course-and-risk-factors-for-mortality-of-adult-with-COVID19-in-Wuhan.pdf

https://globalhealth.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Clinical-Characteristics-of-138-Hospitalized-Patients-With-2019-Novel-Coronavirus–Infected-Pneumonia-in-Wuhan.pdf

• • “Using behavioural science to help fight the coronavirus”
    This ESRI article summarises useful evidence from behavioural science for fighting the COVID-19 outbreak, based on an extensive literature search of relevant behavioural interventions and studies of crises. 
     
  • “Social Science in Humanitarian Action”
    This document sets out practical considerations relating to flows of information, misinformation and disinformation though online media, particularly social media networks, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It details various types of online media, key players and influencers on social media, and strategies for ensuring good information and disrupting mis- and disinformation.
     
  • “COVID-19 – the social science response to the pandemic”
    This article covers the anthropological response to COVID-19, along with lessons learnt from Ebola and SARS, the importance of pandemic responses from the ‘bottom-up’, the impacts on people in slums and informal settlements, and exploring the impact of the virus on religious practices.
     
  • “Our Most Vulnerable Communities Face Big Challenges In Quarantine”
    This is a podcast all about community support and coping strategies, and protecting those most at risk during this time. 
  • “COVID-19 – a social phenomenon requiring diverse expertise”
    This article explores the social responses to COVID-19, and the inequalities and anxieties, discrimination and division; and also solidarities and collective action that the pandemic is creating.
  • Self Isolation Helpers Website
    This temporary website was created to support the community as people adjust to COVID-19, highlighting how individuals, organisations and businesses are all doing their bit to help with what is, for many, a difficult time.

Women in Global Health launch COVID 50/50

1. Spread the word
2. Share on social using #COVID5050
3. Join our Facebook community. 
4. Partner with us. 
5.  Subscribe to our newsletter — and tell your friends.
6. Participate in Crowdsourcing information on gender. 
7.  Donate your time. 

TO FIND OUT MORE

European Commission Coordinates Response to COVID-19 Outbreak

The European Commission is coordinating a common European response  to the outbreak of COVID-19. They are taking resolute action to reinforce our public health sectors and mitigate the socio-economic impact in the European Union. The commission is are mobilising all means at their disposal to help Member States coordinate their national responses and are providing objective information about the spread of the virus and effective efforts to contain it. 

President von der Leyen has established a Coronavirus response team at political level to coordinate the response to the pandemic

During these times of crisis, across the European Union, countries, regions and cities are stretching out a helping hand to neighbours and assistance is given to those most in need: donations of protective equipment such as masks, cross-border treatments of ill patients and bringing stranded citizens home. This is European solidarity at its best.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

Science Foundation Ireland Build Research Resource to Meet Demands of the COVID-19 Crisis

• ACAPS – Norway: COVID-19 Report
  It provides an initial analysis of the data. In order to share the information quickly, the analysis is descriptive.
  To View Data Set, Click Here
• Community Health Workers and Pandemic Preparedness: Current and Prospective Roles
  A perspective piece drawing from the response to the 2014 Ebola and 2015 Zika epidemics

• Lessons Learned from Reinforcing Epidemiologic Surveillance During the 2017 Ebola Outbreak in the Likati District, Democratic Republic of the Congo
  Comprehensive lessons from ebola in DRC – community health recommendations highlighted below

• Protecting Home Health Care Workers: A Challenge to Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Planning
  An excellent summary of healthcare safety, security and wellness considerations

• The First Mile: community experience of outbreak control during an Ebola outbreak in Luwero District, Uganda
  This is an interesting piece on the cultural dimensions of public health messaging.

• Piloting a participatory, community-based health information system for strengthening community-based health services: findings of a cluster-randomized controlled trial in the slums of Freetown, Sierra Leone
  A helpful and informative trial of a CHIS during three separate epidemic shocks

• Effect of the Ebola-virus-disease epidemic on malaria case management in Guinea, 2014: a cross-sectional survey of health facilities 
  &
•  Implementation research on community health workers’ provision of maternal and child health services in rural Liberia
  These are a pair of complementary studies: the first demonstrating the interruption of PHC services during an epidemic in the context of a weak CH system, the second demonstrating the alternative

Public health management of persons, including health care workers, having had contact with COVID-19 cases in the European Union – first update

Resource estimation for contact tracing, quarantine and monitoring activities for COVID-19 cases in the EU/EEA

Guidance for wearing and removing personal protective equipment in healthcare settings for the care of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19

Checklist for hospitals preparing for the reception and care of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) patients

Rapid risk assessment: Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: increased transmission in the EU/EEA and the UK – sixth update

Infection prevention and control for COVID-19 in healthcare settings

Considerations relating to social distancing measures in response to the COVID-19 epidemic

Novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) – Discharge criteria for confirmed COVID-19 cases

HSE Advice and Guidance for Healthcare workers

 
• Assessment and testing pathways (formerly risk assessment algorithms)
• Clinical management for novel coronavirus
• Contact tracing guidance
• GP Primary Care Setting guidance
• Infection Prevention and Control guidance
• Laboratory Testing guidance
• Occupational Health guidance
• Pharmacy guidance
• Pregnant and post partum period guidance
• Primary Care guidance
• Self isolation at home

HSE Approved Guidance for Disability Services

Developed by the HSE in collaboration with service providers in the voluntary sector. They have been approved by the HSE’s Vulnerable Person’s Group.

Some of the guidance includes:

• Poster explaining COVID-19 Test Process for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons (PDF, 198 KB, 1 page)
• Guidance on the use of PPE in Disability Services
• Managing Stress for Individuals with a Disability in a Pandemic

TO LEARN MORE

COVID-19 Partner Pack 

This online digital partner pack contains:

• The most up to date posters on Coronavirus COVID-19
• Videos that you can share and display
• Leaflets, social media assets and more
• New Youtube information source video here

Find out more here

The Department of Health and the HSE, in collaboration with key cross-Government and cross-sectoral partners, have been developing a mental wellbeing campaign.

TO LEARN MORE

COVID-19 Visualizer

This website was developed by Navid Mamoon and Gabriel Rasskin, two students at Carnegie Mellon University.

This project provides an interactive way to visualize the impact of COVID-19: the active cases, recoveries and deaths in each country to date.  

The data is from Worldometer’s real-time updates, utilizing reliable sources from around the world. The TODAY cases/deaths are based on GMT (+0).

Find the website here

The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic is leading to a rapidly expanding and evolving literature.
Evidence Aid is preparing summaries of relevant research at this link as they become available. 

“COVID-19 and Sustainable Healthcare Systems”

OpEd by Lorcan Clarke for Evidence Aid

Handbook for public health capacity-building at ground crossings and cross-border collaboration

This handbook follows a comprehensive approach to health system strengthening at borders in order to support IHR national focal points and other national agencies in developing and implementing evidence-based action plans for IHR capacity development at ground crossings. The approach includes the movement of travellers and baggage, cargo, containers, conveyances, goods and postal parcels across ground crossings, as well as the interaction with adjacent border communities. Other factors can be considered, if needed, throughout the risk assessment.

Critical preparedness, readiness and response actions for COVID-19:

This document describes the preparedness, readiness and response actions for COVID-19 for each transmission scenario.
Countries should prepare to respond to different public health scenarios, recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to managing cases and outbreaks of COVID-19. Each country should assess its risk and rapidly implement the necessary measures at the appropriate scale to reduce both COVID-19 transmission and economic, public and social impacts.

Responding to community spread of COVID-19:

This document provides technical guidance for government authorities, health workers, and other key stakeholders to guide response to community spread. It will be updated as new information or technical guidance become available. For countries that are already preparing or responding, this document can also serve as a checklist to identify any remaining gaps.

Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Action Plan Guidance COVID-19 Preparedness and Response:

This tool is designed to support risk communication, community engagement staff and responders working with national health authorities, and other partners to develop, implement and monitor an effective action plan for communicating effectively with the public, engaging with communities, local partners and other stakeholders, helping to prepare and protect individuals, families and the public’s health during early response to COVID-19.

Disease commodity package – Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) 

Worldometer

Lists Coronavirus cases and deaths total and by county, along with trend tracking

Coronastats.co Tracker

This website displays worldwide COVID-19 infection rate, death, recoveries and those who are in critical condition in every country. It also measures the number of daily new infection worldwide. 

Trend Tracker – Johns Hopkins

Updated daily with global cases and tracks trends worldwide

The Centre for Disease Control have produced video content for the general public as well as healthcare practitioner. We would like to recommend and highlight two videos from this youtube series

1.  Update for Rural Partners and Communities on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Response

HHS Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan provided introductory remarks and an update. Dr. Jay Butler shared guidance with partners, public health practitioners, healthcare providers, and others working to protect the health of rural communities. He described what CDC knows at this point and responded to questions.

2. Private Sector Call: Update on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Response

Dr. Butler shared guidance for the private sector, including what CDC knows at this point and what CDC is doing in response to this outbreak.

TO LEARN MORE

The dashboard embedded here is published and hosted by researchers at the Center for Systems Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University. It shows the number and location of confirmed COVID-19 cases, deaths, and recoveries in all affected countries.

• EvidenceAid COVID-19 Collection: Evidence Aid has compiled a list of reliable resources about COVID-19 in addition to multiple translation. There is 4 main categories:
  1. Clinical characterisation and management
  2. Health System and services
  3. Infection prevention and control, including health care worker’s protection
  4. Public health interventions

• Science Foundation Ireland: (FI is working together with Government Departments and other agencies (IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Health Research Board, Irish Research Council and others), and the wider research and innovation community to ensure a coordinated and meaningful contribution to solving some of the challenges presented by COVID-19.
  Here is their Five Point Plan, SFI’s contribution to the Irish Government’s National Action Plan in response to COVID-19, outlining key activities where SFI believe the research community can make a positive impact.

• Global WaSH Cluster Resources: This is a full suite of resources provided by the GWC. The Resource Menu is a mapping of current WASH specific resources relating to the COVID-19 global response.  Portal to full Resources here. Additional regional and country resources will be added through time and the google drive folder is continuously being reviewed.
•  Critical preparedness, readiness and response actions for COVID-19 – WHO GUIDELINES – The WHO issued a package of guidelines reiterating their existing preparedness and response guidance for area to help them to slow down and ultimately stop COVID-19 transmission, this document can be accessed at this link.
•  COVID-Infection rates throughout the World – This resource from the site worldometer includes total cases, new cases , total deaths, new deaths, numbers of acute cases, recovered cases and infection rates. It is refreshed every few hours and gives context to where Ireland rates in relation to the aforementioned parameters. Access it here.
•  ‘Situation Reports’ of the World Health Organization (WHO) are published on a daily basis and can be found here at the WHO’s site.
• Guidelines on COVID-19 and Pregnancy – There are two resources available at The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology have updated their guidelines on COVID 19 and pregnancy and the CDC Guidelines
• HSE Advice and Guidance for Healthcare Workers: The HSE provides a useful selection of resources for health care practitioners.
  • Assessment and testing pathways (formerly risk assessment algorithms)
  • Clinical management for novel coronavirus
  • Contact tracing guidance
  • GP Primary Care Setting guidance
  • Infection Prevention and Control guidance
  • Laboratory Testing guidance
  • Occupational Health guidance
  • Pharmacy guidance
  • Pregnant and post partum period guidance
  • Primary Care guidance
  • Self isolation at home

•  Health Service Executive – This online resource produce a digital partner pack which can be downloaded via the link here.This pack contains the most up-to-date posters on Coronavirus COVID-19, videos,leaflets, social media assets and more. There is also a video on social distancing here   
• COVID-19 in Europe: The Italian Lesson – This lancet journal shows the projection of cases if European countries fail to learn from Italy and not adopt very restrictive measures to limit viral diffusion, ensure appropriate health-system response
• Using the behavioural science to help fight coronavirus – This ESRI article summarises useful evidence from behavioural science for fighting the COVID-19 outbreak. It is based on an extensive literature search of relevant behavioural interventions and studies of crises. The findings aim to be useful not only to government and public authorities, but to organisations, workplaces and households.