Ep 012: Zero Covid, 21-Day Quarantine and Vaccinating Children

Whilst much of the world begins the transition to normality Hong Kong has doubled down on a zero COVID strategy in an attempt to achieve the as yet undefined criteria which will allow an open border with China. In our latest podcast, Dr David Owens and Professor Ben Cowling discuss the brittle nature of Zero Covid and the lack of evidence and potential harm caused by recent public health decisions around quarantine. They also discuss the dilemma around decisions on vaccinating children and giving booster doses. The risk-benefit calculations of both these interventions change depending upon the long term public health strategy.