Epidemiology: Social distancing during vaccine rollout may prevent COVID-19 vaccine resistance
It is mathematical that maintaining a social distanceing policy in parallel with the expansion of vaccination may prevent the evolution of vaccine-resistant strains of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Suggested from biological studies.A paper reporting this finding will be published in Nature Human Behavior.
As the pandemic of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continues, the focus is on global vaccination, with social and economic activity as a result of rising vaccination rates. At the same time, it is expected that the relaxation of related social distance policy will be gradually resumed.However, recently, SARS-CoV-2 mutant strains (Delta strains and Omicron strains) showing partial vaccine resistance have emerged, causing a pandemic of the disease.
Now, Yitzhak Pilpel and colleagues use vaccination data and infection data from six countries (Israel, United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, France, Germany) for vaccination rates and social distance policy (lockdown, etc.). We investigated the evolution of the reacted SARS-CoV-2.As a result, it was found that if vaccination progresses slowly, resistant strains are likely to emerge even if the lockdown policy is continued.On the other hand, if vaccination is fast, as seen in Israel, it was predicted that the emergence of resistant strains could be prevented if social distancing policies were maintained until the majority of the population was vaccinated.This means that reducing the number of new infections by reducing contact during mass vaccination programs is crucial to prevent the evolution of vaccine-resistant strains of SARS-CoV-2.
These results indicate that social distanceing is required until herd immunity is achieved in order to prevent the evolution of vaccine-resistant strains.Pilpel et al. Also recommend that policymakers should pursue social distanceting and contact reduction policies (such as lockdown and telecommuting recommendations) with prompt mass vaccination.
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* This article is reprinted from "Nature Japan Featured Highlights".
Reprinted from: "Epidemiology: Social distancing during vaccination may prevent COVID-19 vaccine resistance'
