We have reached the end of 2020. An end of the year acclaimed by many, perhaps in a will imbued with the illusion or fervent desire that, with the farewell to 2020, the adversities that this historic and fateful year brought to the world, will dissipate. But no. And it is just as well that it is so, because it is in adversity that we are driven to evolve, with the certainty that the lessons of 2020 will certainly remain in the memory of generations who, with the failures or mistakes of the past, will build a more promising future.

December was a month that once again had Covid-19 as the protagonist of a series of events that marked the present day, which also brought to public discussion the fight for the defence of human rights - following a tragedy that fostered debate on a potential restructuring of the Aliens and Borders Service.

The dream of the vaccine to control the pandemic came true and a British citizen, 90 years old, made history by being the first person to be vaccinated against covid-19 in the United Kingdom, which was the first European country to put the vaccination campaign underway to control the pandemic. “A historic date for Public Health”, according to Professor Francisco Antunes, commenting on the administration of the first vaccine against covid-19, and also the counterpoint of optimism with caution in a process that we believe must be “clear and transparent to guarantee the adhesion of the global population”, citing Professor Miguel Castanho's observations.

 

Over here, we await the National Vaccination Plan and the 22 million doses of vaccines that are expected to arrive in Portugal at the beginning of next year, as well as the possible consequences or a “black January”, as the estimates of the epidemiological situation arising from a more permissive Christmas with regard to the proximity between all and which, as scientific evidence attests, is decisive for the increase of contagions.

We thus risk freedom to live the festive season with great relief from the restrictions of combating the pandemic and having a Christmas dinner, warmer in affection, which invites the normality of the pre-covid era. However, it is essential not to forget that the risk of contagion persists, so that appeals to common sense, to individual responsibility and civic duty in favour of the collective good, have gained particular strength.

Thus, we justified the importance of maintaining rigorous measures in place to combat the pandemic, to the detriment of a Christmas with the least possible number of contagions, in an alert from Professor Fausto J. Pinto, who explains that the price to pay for “nicer” measures at Christmas is quite high.

And reiterating the importance of a solid and consistent communication campaign in a time of pandemic, we considered the lack of objectivity in the indicators for assessing the epidemiological situation of our country, which continues to be “an action based on generalist criteria, little based on facts”, as Professor Miguel Castanho explained.

Aligned with knowledge, we remained at the forefront and participated in a European project to share information about covid-19, with a view to an even more effective coordination between European countries in studying the pandemic, in order to support political power in decision-making processes.

We looked at the reality of obstetric violence in Portugal and discussed the excess of intervention and humanization in delivery rooms with Professor Diogo Ayres de Campos, who heads the Obstetrics Department at Santa Maria Hospital.

We also analysed the direct and indirect effects of the pandemic on cardiovascular diseases, in a conference presented by Professor Fausto J. Pinto, within the scope of the 8th International Congress of Hospitals “Health 6.0: People and Technology”.

We learned that “haste - like fear - is a bad advisor”, in an analysis by Professor Miguel Castanho of the strategy for vaccination of covid-19 in Portugal, and we understand how all the pieces of the puzzle fit together, with the Professor Maria do Carmo Fonseca's explanations on the making and functioning of the vaccine, which she guarantees meets the required safety requirements.

In December, we celebrated the 66th anniversary of Santa Maria Hospital, through an initiative that placed the Academy and the Hospital in the same line of vision to respond to the challenges of the future.

We also shared the Third Research Symposium of the Portuguese Medical Schools, actively participating in a “consolidation” cycle that ends, with the handing over by Professor Fausto J. Pinto at the head of the CEMP. It was a coordination marked by the challenges of the pandemic, in which medical schools have shown resilience and overcoming.

We were present at the 5th Congress of the Psychological Support Services Network in Higher Education (RESAPES), and highlighted the main achievements of Espaço S, which plays a crucial role in the psychological support of our students, intervening in the promotion of Mental Health in our Faculty.

And in the face of the race for rapid tests and PCR tests with the approach of Christmas, we once again clarified the society about the risk of “a security that is not real”, in an alert from Professor and Immunologist Luís Graça.

We referred to the creation of a “mixed vaccine”, following the collaboration between the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and Russian specialists for the joint production of a vaccine against covid-19, sharing Professor Miguel Castanho's perspective on the agreement between “two rivals and competitors” that agreed “to create a better product with advantages for everyone”.

We presented a new edition of FMUL in Numbers, focusing on the impact of the pandemic on technical support for remote education and teleworking.

 

Since it is through information and knowledge that mentalities can be changed, we will remain active in the defence of the values that move us and we will not fail to contribute to a society that is more aware and knowledgeable about Science.

It is in the firmness of the actions - risking imperfection, but persisting in excellence - that we made possible what we often thought impossible, because behind each problem, and regardless of the time or resources that are needed, there is always a solution waiting to be found.

 

Sofia Tavares
Equipa Editorial