An Australian studies assessment in the household transmission of COVID-19 has led to four novel recommendations when it comes to preparedness for future. The initial study was based on the national protocol and was held early in the early part of the pandemic in 2020 in order to share necessary data to inform the public health response in Australia.
The co-author of the study, who also happens to be a PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne, Adrian Marcato, the Few X Household Transmission Project for COVID-19 was quickly adapted as per the WHO protocols.
The original FFX project was designed to meet the informational requirements as early as possible in the pandemic. Baseline information of early SARS strains from adults and children in Australia got a space in the Lancet Regional Health Western Pacific.
Apparently, the 2020 FFX project had to face many hurdles, and the current follow up analysis has been designed so as to document the strengths and issues that were there in the original approach.
As per the evaluation process, four recommendations emerged for future preparedness, which included issues such as study designs as well as logistics, data management, and also ethics and governance.
Partnerships
The researchers and public health officials’ partnership is pivotal in implementing the FFX study, and hence the initial recommendation is to make mature partnerships, strengthen them, and also collaborate in order to enable more quick activation of the study, as per Marcato.
Integrated Data
There is a requirement for better integration of FFX studies in the public health response. Effectively, a national FFX data system would help with the rapid collection of the desired information infrastructure across all government levels in order to provide the best pandemic outcomes in Australia.
Approved In Advance Protocols
The pre-approved FFX protocol’s development in advance of an emergency due to infection is bound to be more effective and efficient. According to Marcato, protocols which are well-designed can be adapted quickly in order to take care of the emergency. With approvals and protocols in place, the collection of data that is culturally appropriate can be enabled for individuals who are at greater disease risk.
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National Data Infrastructure
Investment in the national data infrastructure happens to be the final recommendation. In Australia, healthcare is taken care of by local, state as well as territory and central governments. All this leads to many gaps around how information is collected as well as shared.
It is well to note that the original 2020 project had the jurisdiction of the WA, SA, QLD, and NSW health departments as well as Victoria’s Royal Children’s Hospital, and at least one collaborator from the FFX site was asked to be a part of the evaluation.