人類歷史上發生過多次呼吸道病毒的全球大流行,是次由新冠病毒造成的大流行既非首次,亦非終結。史稱「西班牙流感」的1918年全球大流行(The Great Pandemic),由甲型流感病毒H1N1引起。這個在人類史上記載得最清楚、影響最深遠的大流行,不單止奪去數千萬條生命,甚至改變了第一次世界大戰的進程。回顧1918年大流行的歷史經驗和教訓,正好為新冠病毒全球大流行的終局揭示端倪。
於2020年3月,即大流行初期,我們已明確指出,新冠病毒因無症狀患者及輕症者眾,並能於上呼吸道釋放大量病毒,故不會如2003年的SARS-CoV一樣自然消失。相反,新冠病毒會如其他4種引起普通感冒的冠狀病毒(OC43、229E、NL63和HKU1)般,繼續在社區傳播,長存人間。目前本港完成兩針疫苗接種人口已超過90.7%[15],本部門之研究顯示,本港約90%人口在2022年5月時,體內已經帶有針對病毒RBD的血清中和抗體[16],此數與我們較早前估算相約。加上大批市民於第5波時透過自然感染,獲得黏膜免疫(mucosal immunity)。先接種疫苗,再自然感染,產生的混合免疫之防感染效果相對較強,有助降低新冠病毒的傳播速度。現時新冠疫情之粗病死率較前幾波低、有效繁殖率較低,以及季節性愈來愈明顯,新冠病毒基本上與全球各地流行之季節性流感或其他呼吸道病毒接近。故市民大眾應該開始明白新冠病毒感染已經在本港紥根,並已成為風土病之事實。現時疫情已經緩和,應逐漸開始放寬復常。時至今日,仍未接種之市民,經過一年多之時間仍對疫苗有猶豫,再給予時間仍不會有太大改變。社會應尊重這批市民之選擇,而本港復常計劃亦可以向前邁進,無需要再等待。未接種之市民可以每天做抗原檢測,一旦感染,盡早求醫並服用口服抗病毒藥。只要處置得當,多管齊下,應能將本年之冬季疫情高峰壓平(flattening the curve),確保像第5波規模的大爆發不會在本港再出現。
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