Experts from China and the United States: New crown epidemic prevention, control and treatment need to work together

(Fighting New Coronary Pneumonia) Experts from China and the United States: The prevention, control and treatment of the new crown epidemic need to cooperate

　　China News Service, Beijing, March 3 (Reporter Ma Haiyan) "To form herd immunity, it must be achieved through vaccination based on science." said Zhong Nanshan, head of the high-level expert group of the National Health Commission of China. Vaccines and cocktail antibody therapies must be improved for the constantly emerging mutant strains to better prevent the next wave of epidemics that may occur. This requires the cooperation of China and the United States.

　　A cloud forum jointly organized by Tsinghua University and the Brookings Institution kicked off on the evening of the 1st.

Top experts from the field of public health and medicine in China and the United States focus on "The right track of rapid recovery: Sino-US cooperation in the prevention and control of the new crown epidemic", on medical research and cooperation, vaccine research and development and distribution, global regulations for cross-border travel and trade, etc. Explore.

　　Qiu Yong, president of Tsinghua University, said that at the beginning of 2021, rapid progress in the research and development of several effective vaccines has brought sustainable solutions to the global epidemic.

"As the world enters the vaccine distribution stage, we need to work together to establish and formulate policy recommendations suitable for the next stage. We look forward to strengthening cooperation with the Brookings Institution and the international community to promote the prevention and control of the new crown epidemic through academic exchanges and scientific research cooperation. And global recovery."

　　John Allen, chairman of the Brookings Institution, said that better control of the epidemic is the top priority of the government's work. No country can accomplish this task independently. This can only be achieved through cooperation.

"We especially hope to cooperate in scientific research, including vaccine development and distribution, as well as global trade and travel regulations."

　　John Allen said that the Brookings Institution and Tsinghua University have had 15 years of fruitful cooperation and built an effective bridge between the United States and China, hoping to better promote cooperation between the academic circles of the two countries and other fields.

　　"We found that the biggest obstacle to progress is not scientific research, not technology, but a lack of mutual respect, mutual trust, and international cooperation." said Wilt Ian Lipkin, director of the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. , The treatment of polio, smallpox, AIDS and other diseases is achieved through effective international cooperation.

In responding to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) epidemics, we have further realized the importance of global cooperation.

　　"The new crown virus will not be the last challenge we face. We underestimated the risks of a series of viruses and bacteria. In addition, we also face major challenges such as climate change and food security." Wilt Ian Lipkin emphasized that it is necessary to establish better data monitoring, collection and sharing mechanisms and strengthen global cooperation.

　　Gao Fu, director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, shared the "4C" principles, namely collaboration, competition, communication and coordination.

He said that to deal with such a public medical crisis, three steps are required: first, it must be based on science; second, it must improve public understanding and promote public participation; and finally, the government must be able to make wise and evidence-based decisions.

　　"We should use these three steps in both China and the United States. Of course, different countries will have different national conditions and different application conditions." Gao Fu said that China and the United States must work together in response to the challenge of the epidemic. At the same time, it is necessary to minimize the impact of poverty on people's access to epidemic prevention and control measures.

　　Fei Heping, former director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pointed out that the current new crown vaccine is safe and effective.

"It is an effective way to control the epidemic in the future, but its promotion is still relatively slow. At the same time, it is necessary to discuss the unequal distribution of vaccines due to socio-economic inequality." He suggested that the two sides should monitor the epidemic situation and conduct laboratory research and development. They cooperated more closely with each other. "We see that medical cooperation has become a bridge for world peace."

　　Former Director of the US Food and Drug Administration Jane Hayney said that science is the cornerstone of decision-making, and it can also better protect public health and health.

"In the prevention and control of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, we have to make many important decisions. These decisions must be based on our knowledge. Therefore, we must continue to conduct research to obtain more data and evidence."

　　Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that the direction of the epidemic depends on three factors, including the public health measures adopted by people in various countries and communities, vaccination coverage, and how long the vaccine can protect.

With these three factors, we can make a more reasonable epidemic forecast based on science and study the situation and trend of the epidemic in the short term in the future.

　　"Now is an excellent time to work together to fight the epidemic." Zhang Wenhong, leader of the Shanghai New Coronary Pneumonia Medical Treatment Expert Team, said that in the long run, if there is no widespread vaccination on a global scale, there will be no way to achieve absolute control of the epidemic. .

At present, global vaccination is extremely unbalanced, and it is difficult to establish a global immune barrier against the virus. The opportunities and risks of virus mutation will always exist.

　　Zhang Wenhong said that the response to the epidemic requires a global solution, just like human beings used to deal with the smallpox virus, through the implementation of global vaccine coverage and public health strategies, and finally successfully controlled the spread of the global epidemic that has been raging for thousands of years.

The balanced coverage of vaccines through global collaboration will be the main tool to help the world return to normal.

Before the global vaccine barrier is established, it is necessary to reach a consensus on global openness. In a period of time, vaccines and nucleic acid testing may be a health passport for global cross-border travel. Only by doing this can the world be fully open again. .

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