Coronavirus continues to dominate the news, and it’s important to understand progress we’re making in possible treatments. This epidemic re-emphasizes the importance of bringing diagnostic tests and vaccinations to market as soon as possible for treatment and/or prevention.
But first, let’s review some of the background and actions underway.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) virus named SARS-CoV-2. It was first identified in China and has spread to numerous countries around the globe. As a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), strong measures are being taken to understand more about COVID-19, to identify and treat infected patients, and to minimize further spread of the disease.
Toward these goals, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first and only emergency COVID-19 test that was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The COVID-19 Real-Time RT-PCR diagnostic panel is a test that has been limited to CDC laboratories, or any lab in the country that is CDC-qualified to test for the virus. FDA commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D., said: “This continues to be an evolving situation and the ability to distribute this diagnostic test to qualified labs is a critical step forward in protecting the public health.”
As far as a vaccine, I like to think of the possible creation like a marathon…many start, few finish.
The gun has sounded and the various runners — dozens of large and small manufacturers — are looking to “bring a permanent protection to market first.” Researchers fully understand that an effective vaccine could be created in a matter of weeks, but that isn’t as helpful when manufacturers and regulatory affairs may not authorize for months.
Primary research for a COVID-19 vaccine has been based off previous efforts involving severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) vaccines.
COVID-19 vaccine is being modeled and created through the virus’ genetic sequence, which Chinese researchers were able to extract and share. The flu vaccine, which changes each year, is able to be manipulated and distributed each year based on susceptibilities rates and specific viral targets with no significant delays. However, without an already-in-play vaccine for COVID-19, SARS or MERS, mass production of these future vaccines will take time to get out to millions of healthcare providers.
One biotech company, Moderna, has made significant progress on vaccine development in just a few short weeks. In a press release on Feb. 24, Moderna stated it has released the first batch the company’s vaccine against the novel coronavirus and the vaccine is being evaluated as part of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Phase 1 study.
Health IT plays a critical role in addressing public health emergencies. Solutions are available to help educate, prevent, identify, report and manage diseases such as COVID-19.
In response to COVID-19, the capture of travel and exposure history, as well as the ability to assess clinical symptoms within the EHR, have enabled Clinical Decision Support in accordance with the CDC’s recommendations to be delivered at the point of care.
To enable rapid response, it is essential that all involved take an All-Hazards approach when developing an emergency response plan.
Allscripts has plans to actively monitor and respond to public health emergencies. Through learnings from past outbreaks, response plans have been improved to allow for a more rapid and effective response. It is important to develop and refine these processes outside of a crisis period to allow for a dedicated focus during an active response.
Finally, it is essential that health IT vendors stay up to date on the most recent information pertaining to public health emergencies. Partnering with organizations, such as the CDC, allows for open communication, which is essential for responding to emergencies.
By employing an All-Hazards approach, we are in a better position to more rapidly and effectively respond to these critical emergencies.
