Opinion – Esper Kallás: The new face of Covid-19

The 83-year-old mother of several children and grandmother of many grandchildren was undergoing treatment after being diagnosed with lymphoma, a cancer that originates in the lymph nodes. Added to chemotherapy, it weakened his defense system to the point of resulting in a very poor response to vaccines, including those used to prevent Covid-19.

It was at a family gathering that SARS-CoV-2 ended up infecting some people, including her. The virus seemed to cause a not so serious illness, but her body couldn’t find the means to get rid of it, even with the help of drugs produced specifically for this purpose, such as antivirals and monoclonal antibodies.

After a few weeks, with the virus still multiplying, the disease began to attack his lungs more and more and his general condition got much worse.

Almost three years have passed and many have hoisted flags of victory over the pandemic. With vaccination and the gain of immunity after natural infections, the number of cases has been falling in Brazil and in the world. Isolation measures are practically on the sidelines. A decreasing number of people wear a mask and the subject is leaving the important agendas of the day.

When it is resumed, the debate is more about the impact on the economy, on education, on leisure activities. They cannot forget, however, those who have suffered irretrievable losses, especially family and friends.

The way society had projected health as a priority has been losing strength and focus. Many do not even imagine how important was the investment in the structure of hospitals to support the load of patients who queued at their doors. The dedicated work of professionals in so many areas of health is now a distant memory. And the fundamental importance of vaccines has been forgotten. The use of the bivalent vaccine, for example, which also protects against the ômicron variant, has not gained any priority from Brazilian managers. To date, effective antiviral treatments and monoclonal antibodies have not reached SUS patients.

Last week, 448 people died of Covid-19 in Brazil. Most of them in situations similar to the patient above. These are the new contours of the pandemic. People whose illnesses, or advanced age, do not allow for an effective protective response, even when vaccinated. With the absence of antiviral treatment in the public health network, they are at the mercy of the aggressiveness of SARS-CoV-2.

Most likely, the pandemic is landing from its devastating flight in Brazil, but not to completely end. On the contrary, the virus will continue to be transmitted. Although with much less aggression among the vaccinated, it will affect the elderly and sick. The numbers of new cases and deaths should stabilize at lower levels, characterizing an endemic disease.

Patients with immune system deficiencies account for 3% of the population. In Brazil, there would be about 6 million people, a considerable portion that remains at risk of developing more serious forms of Covid-19.

How many deaths from Covid-19 can we tolerate? Unsurprisingly, many other preventable diseases also affect the population, resulting in hospitalizations and deaths. Influenza, AIDS, childhood diseases, hepatitis.

The discussion about how much investment is needed in the fragile Brazilian health system is not simple, but absolutely essential.

The children take turns to visit the mother who remains intubated, in a serious condition, in the ICU. The weapons to fight the virus have run out without her showing significant signs of improvement. This is the new face of Covid-19.