At this challenging time, ahead of the start of the school year and before the holiday season, one must return to the foundations of public health.
"Public health" is an area whose focus is on disease prevention, especially in the healthy population, from the perspective of health in all policies, while integrating disciplines and sectors.
In public health we use epidemiological tools and risk management, out of proportionate thinking and especially within holistic considerations, which see in the field of health far beyond medicine.
In the contemporary context, not only the counting of corona cases, but also the understanding of long-term effects, both of dealing with the corona and with other health issues.
In light of this, one must well understand what the purpose of Haim's government's goal with the Corona is.
Living with the corona is not a waiver of health, for the benefit of the economy, but a combination of them.
Living with the corona does not mean that we have to apply a deterministic view that claims that people eventually get rid of diseases.
A broad conception of health sees first and foremost human beings, their needs and the various gaps that need to be addressed.
Such an approach for example is reflected in social epidemiology while analyzing the morbidity and its causes according to socioeconomic status.
Such an analysis, for example, led the Minister of Health to launch a program he revealed to the media from Kfar Qassem, where he also showed the map of Israel's vaccinators and the close connection between the socio-economic situation and immunization rates.
The lower the settlement in the socio-economic cluster, the less the public is vaccinated.
The solution of accessibility through "intensive vaccine mobility" is an excellent example of the essential importance of reducing disparities and mutual guarantee, and the danger of inequality.
Indeed, in the last two weeks we have finally seen an increase in the immunization rate, not only in the third vaccine which is undoubtedly very important, in light of the decrease in the level of antibodies and protection - when more than five months have passed since the second vaccine - but also in the first vaccine.
After several months of laxity and passivity, we have returned to a high rate of immunization and the deep involvement of civil society in all sectors, in a way that evokes appreciation and hope for the future.
But we must not think that vaccines will solve all the problems.
If we understand the concept of "health in all policies" and the broad vision of public health, the same approach of mapping gaps must work in all areas - the traffic light method should also be of socio-economic traffic light, of focusing on the social needs of the most deeply affected corona Poverty, social and geographical periphery, as well as people with disabilities.
See for example the opening of schools.
We at the Association of Public Health Physicians support the opening of schools.
Certainly it is important to focus on preventing corona cases, boosting vaccines, providing the envelope of the various tests, including a protective education program.
But all this will be in vain if the education system is not addressed and strengthened right now, by reducing the number of children in the classroom, with pedagogical changes - to adapt the system to challenges, and especially to give the tools adapted to all parts of society, including children. Impairment of food security or emotional deficiencies and a sense of isolation.
Here, too, we need a broad perception of public health and a combination of factors.
Opening schools is a value statement, and it requires readiness beyond Corona.
Living with the corona means putting public health, in the broadest sense - physical, mental and social, as part of our national security.
Towards the new year, investment in the health, education, welfare, environment and healthy urban planning systems must be made out of a perception that this is a social investment, an investment that will return to us as a society in the coming decades.