ITIC Global 2021: Dr Vanya Gant on lessons to learn from Covid-19

Dr Vanya Gant, an expert in infectious diseases, shared how we can use what we have learned from the Covid-19 pandemic to be better prepared for the next pandemic, as well as the threat of new variants and therapies for Long Covid.

He discussed whether there is a chance that governments will learn from this, or whether we’ll be back in global lockdowns in a few years, when a new variant emerges. For example, he discussed Brazil, which has focused on its economy over the health of citizens but is now relatively safe from the delta variant, due to a high number of antibodies in the population.

Dr Gant added that the delta variant, which is both highly transmissible and the most resistant to antibodies and therefore vaccines, is taking over the world. Gant believes that the only way variants such as this can be stopped is by developing vaccines that predict future changes to the virus. He added that Long Covid might become a bigger problem to the global economy than the first waves of the pandemic, as the young workforce is unable to work due to ongoing fatigue.

However, to end on a more positive note, he emphasised that the vaccines are working and reducing deaths. “In three years, Covid-19 might have become the fourth known common cold, as our bodies are exposed to more antibodies,” he concluded.

You can read the latest news from ITIC Global 2021 across 1-4 November, including our coverage of a group discussion between battleface, Mapfre Assistencia, and Tokio Marine Global Travel Group about how the travel insurance sector has responded to the challenges following Covid-19.