Preparing for the next COVID wave

Ben Falkenmire

writer

Ben Falkenmire

Writer

Ben Falkenmire

GPs should plan antivirals for high- risk patients

US President Joe Biden recently announced the pandemic was over. Australian Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly then said it’s not over but the emergency response is. So which one is it?

Technically we are still in a pandemic, but psychologically we have decided it’s over. That’s the verdict from Professor Nancy Baxter, Head of Melbourne University’s School of Population and Global Health.

“This is probably one of our lowest risk periods in a while. But there’s a smorgasbord of variants around the world at the moment, and it’s unclear if one’s going to become dominant or worse than BA.5,” Professor Baxter says.

“The next wave will likely come from the northern hemisphere when our immunity has declined, and it is already declining. In January it will be over six months since the BA.5 wave peaked, which is a long time since people had their primary immunisations or boosters.”

Professor Baxter urges GPs to make the most of the current lull and plan for antiviral treatments for the inevitable next wave, which could come as early as summer.

PASSWORD RESET

Forgot your password or password not working? Please enter your email address. You will receive an email with the link to set a new password.

Icon 2

NEXT LIVE Webcast

:
Days
:
Hours
:
Minutes
Seconds
Prof Deborah Bateson AM

Prof Deborah Bateson AM

The Natural Estrogen Debate: A Focus on Combined Oral Contraception

Prof Genie Pedagogos, Prof Richard MacIsaac & A/Prof Ralph Audehm

Prof Genie Pedagogos, Prof Richard MacIsaac & A/Prof Ralph Audehm

Panel Discussion on GLP1s for Chronic Kidney Disease in Type 2 Diabetes

Dr Gabby Mahoney

Dr Gabby Mahoney

Eczema Management Practical Tips

Prof Rodney Baber AM

Prof Rodney Baber AM

Menopausal Hormone Therapy and its Cardiovascular Benefits

Join us for the next free webcast for GPs and healthcare professionals

High quality lectures delivered by leading independent experts

Share this

Share this

Ben Falkenmire

writer

Ben Falkenmire

Writer

Test your knowledge

Recent articles

Latest GP poll

The government's bulk billing incentives start on 1 November. How accurate do you think the government's messaging to the public has been?

Very misleading

0%

Moderately misleading

0%

Slightly misleading

0%

Not at all misleading

0%

Find your area of interest

Once you confirm you’ve read this article you can complete a Patient Case Review to earn 0.5 hours CPD in the Reviewing Performance (RP) category.

Select ‘Confirm & learn‘ when you have read this article in its entirety and you will be taken to begin your Patient Case Review.

Upcoming Healthed Webcast

Eczema management practical tips

Tuesday 28th October, 7pm - 9pm AEDT

Speaker

Dr Gabby Mahoney

Paediatric Allergist and Immunologist; Royal Children's Hospital

We invite you to our next free webcast, where Dr Gabby Mahoney will present on eczema management ractical tips. Up to 4 hours CPD. RACGP & ACRRM accredited.