Geoffrey Williams, of the Malaysia University of Science and Technology, and Paolo Casadio, of HELP University, said “Plan B” solutions, such as a stimulus package, loan moratorium, cash transfer and lockdown would not provide the intended results.
“Instead of a Plan B wish list approach, consider instead a Plan A-Plus approach.
“This would focus on opening the economy quickly while separately extending and diversifying the current anti-virus strategy to target two different outcomes simultaneously.
“The first is to continue with the existing distribution plan for the vaccines as the definitive solution.
“The second is to try to achieve a significant and consistent reduction in the number of cases and deaths quickly, using multiple alternatives and parallel methods,” they said in a joint statement today.
Citing evidence from other countries such as the UK, they said relying on only one strategy, such as the “lockdown and vaccinate” approach is risky and has proved ineffective, especially in the face of new variants.
Instead, they proposed that the government implement an aggressive campaign in treating new cases with prophylactic or preventative treatments and therapeutic agents, notably Ivermectin.
“The experience in Mexico City and Peru or in Uttar Pradesh in India, where a well-known drug called Ivermectin has been used, suggests that new cases and deaths can be reduced significantly within a month without interfering with the vaccines.”
They said this measure was cheap and appeared to be effective even against variants.
“Another alternative that has been suggested before in Malaysia is the ‘test, trace, isolate and treat’ regime advocated by the World Health Organization, again to be run in parallel with the vaccine programme.”
They said these measures would also allow the resumption of economic activities.
“This would help avoid a long and deep recession or extended lockdowns if the new variants of the virus begin to take effect, as they have done in the well-vaccinated UK.
“The ‘lockdown and vaccinate’ plan alone will not help to reopen the economy quickly. We will be dragged into a recession or held on a slower recovery path at huge cost to the economy, society and the long-term development of the country.”