An Understanding of the Drivers of Infectious Diseases in the Modern World Can Aid Early Control of Future Pandemics

Pharmacy (Basel). 2021 Nov 3;9(4):181. doi: 10.3390/pharmacy9040181.

Abstract

Infectious diseases have been a significant challenge to health and wellbeing from ancient times, with substantial economic implications globally. Despite the advent of technology, infectious diseases continue to affect people of various social statuses and across geographical locations. Understanding some of the drivers of infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, vaccination, and vaccine hesitancy is a step towards thriving in the modern world, achieving fewer morbidities and mortalities, and adequately controlling future pandemics. Pharmacists are strategically placed as healthcare team members to promote early disease control through health education, advocacy, cross-professional and specialty collaboration, communal trust-building, research, and global unity. Not forgetting that infectious diseases in the modern world are about people and science, credible crisis communication during the early phases of disease outbreaks paves the way for well-informed guidance globally.

Keywords: antimicrobial resistance; infectious diseases; outbreaks and pandemics; pharmacists; vaccines and vaccine hesitancy.