Overcoming the COVID-pandemic:
Posted on August 7th, 2021

Dr. Sunil J. Wimalawansa Prof. Medicine, Endocrinology, & Nutrition

While vaccines are a temporary solution, there is no possibility of generating herd immunity through vaccines to eradicate the pandemic.  The current delta mutants, highly infectious, might direct the nations in that direction as nearly achieving in India, certain parts of the USA, and Sri Lanks in months to come. 

Protective effects against delta variant from Sinopharm or Sinovac (the worst vaccine) is abysmal, 31%, ~80% of Sri Lankans have had so far: they are little better than a placebo injection.   Despite spending over $250 million to purchase the mentioned worse two (inactivated viral) vaccines (apparently had the highest commissions: coming from China!): they have little effect in controlling the spread of the pandemic.  

With $2.4 million invested in a mass-scale distribution of vitamin D, it provided free to people across the country.  Within a few weeks, it would have markedly improved the immune systems of everyone in the country, allowing effectively to fight against any SARS-CoV-2 and all its variants.  This is with no curfew and no economic loss. 

That would have allowed overcoming SARS-CoV-2 and its mutants lasting for a year naturally (but little or no commission for crooks).  Although the latter approach is highly cost-effective, it was flatly rejected by the administration.  If employed, it would have efficiently reduced ~80% of hospitalisations, ICU bed use, and deaths AND entirely avoided the current crisis.  

People should demand accountability: 

It is time that people start demanding responsible folks accountable for the ongoing tragedy, including deaths.  Meanwhile, Sri Lanka leaders seem not interested in prevention, have no listening skills, and doing none to prevent the tragedy, but a lot of worthless talking /noise.  

Expanding structural facilities (e.g., beds), as the army has been ‘proudly’ doing since the mid-last year, is a wholly wrong approach: it only expands patient population and deaths.  Prevention of the disease and stopping developing complications and deaths are the right approach. Virtually nothing is done in this regard.  Why? 

Importance of sun exposure: 

At the minimum, the government should have advised, as we requested several times (but rejected), using the mass media to benefit the public.  It should have advised on daily exposure of a third of the skin surface to direct sunlight, between 10.30 AM and 1.30 PM, between 30 to 60 minutes (while covering eyes and face).   

Although it cost nothing for the government, they would not do it because senior doctors advised against it.  Thus, they are also accountable for the mess.  It would have reduced COVID complications and avoided the major crises in last October, and 2021 April and the current crises.   

Longer-term approaches needed,: 

However, sun exposure takes several months to build up blood levels of vitamin D [25(OH)D level above 50 ng/mL] necessary to boost the immune system.  So, it is a long term strategy to prevent diseases and keeping the population healthy.   

Sri Lankans are lucky to have year-round sunshine.  If we started a countrywide sun exposure program in April 2020, as I was strongly advising, there would not have a crisis today.  

Dr. Sunil J. Wimalawansa (7th August 2021) 

Prof. Medicine, Endocrinology, & Nutrition 

https://vitamindwiki.com/Boosting+Immunity+with+Vitamin+D+to+reduce+COVID-19+risks+-+Aug+2021

Following is an article that might interest you (published this week/NSF):
Please review the first article on the following website (it can be download, forward, or print, free): 

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sunil-Wimalawansa/research:

Boosting Immunity with Vitamin D for Preventing Complications and Deaths from COVID-19 

It summarises research data, including RCTs, of the “effects of vitamin D and calcifediol on preventing COVID-19 complications and deaths.” 

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sunilwimalawansa_vitamin-d-for-covid-19-real-time-meta-analysis-activity-6829607580164349952-Ty-4

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