The introduction and spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Australia and Vietnam

Abstract

In 2020, Australia and Vietnam were two countries in which public health measures resulted in very low community transmission of COVID-19. The works presented in thesis aimed to understand the emergence of COVID-19 and the transmission of COVID-19 in Australia and Vietnam during this period, and to evaluate its effect on certain population sub-groups. In the low-prevalence setting, targeted serological studies in high-risk populations such as health care workers (HCW) and close contacts of COVID-19 positive cases can assist in understanding local transmission and evaluating the effectiveness of infection control and social distancing policies. Furthermore, the impact of the syndemic of two airborne respiratory pathogens - SARS-CoV-2 and TB in a high burden TB and initially low prevalence COVID-19 setting was also explored.

The aims of this thesis were:

1. To determine the sero-prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity among high-risk populations (HCW and close contacts) exposed to COVID-19 in both Australia and Vietnam during the early phase of the pandemic.

2. To evaluate global policies aimed at the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in the general population.

3. To determine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic upon case notifications and treatment outcome data relating to TB in Vietnam, a high burden TB country, during the first 12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic.