Preventing the transmission of Covid-19 with proper testing and vaccination

It has been more than a year since we have been battling against the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Health Organization declared the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak a pandemic on 11 March 2020, acknowledging the spread of the virus to all countries across the globe.¹ This has become an alarming situation as the number of daily cases increased significantly.

As part of the effort to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, health screening tests for Covid19 were implemented to identify Covid19 positive cases and to ensure the safety of the people at large. This measure was taken to contain the spread of the virus and to prevent further disease transmission.² The common Covid-19 tests include RT-PCR Covid19 test and rapid Covid-19 test.

The RT-PCR Covid19 test is usually analyzed in a lab. The rapid Covid19 test on the other hand includes the rapid PCR test and Covid antigen test. For rapid PCR test, the sample can be analyzed at the point-of-care, such as at the clinic itself. Antigen tests are often simpler and may provide results quicker than other molecular tests. Although antigen tests can be less accurate and may need additional diagnostic confirmation tests, they can be made more widely available because they are easy and simple.³ 

Which Covid-19 test do you need? ^{4, 5}

Other efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic is the race to develop and deploy safe and effective vaccines. Vaccines save lives by training and gearing up the body’s natural defence system (immune system) to distinguish and fight off viruses and bacteria. The body will be ready to immediately destroy any disease-causing germs they encounter later once they get exposed to them.⁶

Figure 1. How do vaccines work?⁷

(link for image: https://www.immunology.org/celebrate-vaccines/public-engagement/guide-childhood-vaccinations/how-vaccines-work)

Equitable access and distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine will be facilitated to protect the people, with people most at risk prioritized. While the work towards deploying a safe and effective vaccine is under going, it is important to protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using hand sanitizers frequently.^{1, 6}

At Pantai Premier Pathology, we provide Covid-19 tests:

For more information on the tests provided, please contact us at +603-42809115 (Customer Service) or email us at info@premierpathology.com.my

Reference

1- Archived: WHO Timeline – COVID-19. (2020, April 27). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news/item/27-04-2020-who-timeline—covid-19

2- Shah, A. U. M., Safri, S. N. A., Thevadas, R., Noordin, N. K., Abd Rahman, A., Sekawi, Z., … & Sultan, M. T. H. (2020). COVID-19 outbreak in Malaysia: Actions taken by the Malaysian government. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 97, 108-116.

3- Coronavirus Disease 2019 Testing Basics. (n.d.). U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Retrieved January 27, 2021, from https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/coronavirus-disease-2019-testing-basics

4- COVID-19: contact tracing. (n.d.). World Health Organization. Retrieved February 1, 2021, from https://www.who.int/westernpacific/emergencies/covid-19/information/covid-19-testing

5- Antibody (Serology) Testing for COVID-19: Information for Patients and Consumers. (n.d.). U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Retrieved February 1, 2021, from https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/antibody-serology-testing-covid-19-information-patients-and-consumers

6- COVID-19 vaccines. (n.d.). World Health Organization. Retrieved February 1, 2021, from https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines

7- How vaccines work. (n.d.). British Society for Immunology. Retrieved February 3, 2021, from https://www.immunology.org/celebrate-vaccines/public-engagement/guide-childhood-vaccinations/how-vaccines-work