Targeted support for marginalized communities, strong public messaging and a properly coordinated government approach led by ministers are among the many recommendations in a brand new evidence-based article examining how the UK should reply to future pandemics.
Dr. Maurice Nagington, Dr. Jeremy Williams and Dr. Published by the University of Manchester’s policy engagement unit, Policy@Manchester, Jaime Garcia-Iglesias presents key findings from their research into how the country managed the 2022 outbreak of Mpox, formerly often called monkeypox .
Their conclusions were supported by interviews and focus groups with stakeholders, including affected communities and healthcare employees.
The scientists found “deficiencies in national leadership, strong local and regional inequalities in access to vaccines and inadequate communication infrastructures.”
They provide policymakers and public health officials advice in 4 key areas for managing future infectious disease outbreaks, starting with considerations of how MPOX disproportionately affected marginalized communities.
“People from BAME backgrounds appeared to have lower access to the vaccine, while people from lower income groups faced additional barriers to accessing health and care services,” they note. “Some individuals also faced challenges reminiscent of financial or emotional difficulties during self-isolation.”
They advise: “Public health teams should be empowered to supply additional support (e.g. financial support) where mandatory to enable people to self-isolate.”
The team argues that the needs of marginalized people must also be considered when developing effective communication strategies, a second area explored of their article.
“We note that social media has proven to be an efficient tool within the response to the MPOX outbreak, facilitating the rapid dissemination of knowledge, promoting awareness and supporting collaboration amongst a wide selection of actors involved within the MPOX outbreak. response,” Nagington said, Williams and Garcia-Iglesias write. “Reliance on social media also presents challenges, particularly in relation to equal access to information.”
They imagine that “during outbreaks, additional types of communication that may reach marginalized people must also be developed.” They add: “Community organizations play a crucial role in developing and disseminating appropriate and effective information.”
To deal with a 3rd area where they imagine there may be a necessity for motion, the scientists are calling on government agencies – particularly the Department of Health and Human Services – to supply guidelines for local health teams, backed by additional financial support.
They recommend: “Governments should ensure coordination at ministerial level to be sure that all relevant experts, policymakers and community representatives work together to proactively address emerging inequalities within the immediate outbreak and plan for future outbreaks.”
And with insights from their research into the “critical role” that sexual health services played throughout the Mpox outbreak, Nagington, Williams and Garcia-Iglesias are calling on policymakers and lawmakers to “ensure adequate funding and support for sexual health services with a purpose to “To enhance this ability to fulfill the demands of outbreaks.”
“Has the UK did not manage MPOX?” “Lessons for future pandemics” by Dr. Maurice Nagington, Dr. Jeremy Williams and Dr. Jaime Garcia-Iglesias is offered to read totally free on the Policy@Manchester website.
