What have European countries done to prevent the spread of COVID-19? Lessons from the COVID-19 Health system response monitor. Issue 5 (May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rajan, Selina; McKee, Martin; Hernández-Quevedo, Cristina; Karanikolos, Marina; Richardson, Erica; Webb, Erin; Cylus, Jonathan
• Is Part Of: Health policy. Volume 126:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: 355
• Page End: 361
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- Public health -- Testing -- Contact tracing -- European health policy; Medical education -- Periodicals; Medical policy -- Periodicals; Delivery of Health Care -- Periodicals; Education, Medical -- Periodicals; Health Education -- Periodicals; Health Planning -- Periodicals; Public Policy -- Periodicals; Enseignement médical -- Périodiques; Politique sanitaire -- Périodiques; Medical education; Medical policy; Periodicals; Electronic journals; Electronic journals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2022.03.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0168-8510

Abstract

Highlights: Effective response in a pandemic requires scientific expertise and political leadership. It needs measures that reduce spread, and detect and interrupt it. It needs support for those isolating or otherwise affected. Vaccine rollout must be planned and co-ordinated among everyone involved. Abstract: Although some European countries imposed measures that successfully slowed the transmission of Covid-19 during the first year of the pandemic, others struggled, either because they acted slowly or implemented measures ineffectively. In this paper we consider the European experience with public health measures designed to prevent transmission of COVID-19. Based on literature and country responses described in the COVID-19 Health System Response Monitor from March 2020 to December 2020, we consider some critical aspects of public health policy responses. These include the importance of public health capacity that can scale up surveillance and outbreak control, including effective testing and contract tracing, of clear messaging based on an understanding of human behaviour, policies that address the undesirable consequences of necessary measures, such as support for those isolating or unable to earn, and the ability to implement at pace and scale a major vaccine rollout. We conclude that for countries to be successful at preventing COVID-19 transmission, there is a need for a clear strategy with explicit goals and a whole systems approach to implementation.