As the pandemic reaches new heights with alarming infection and death rates and new virus variants, a New Year began. Our expectations have never been greater. The whole world holds its collective breath that the vaccine will not only work but that our governments and health care systems can deliver it efficiently.
As wound clinicians and researchers from around the world, we are only too familiar with the challenges faced with regards to fragmented and non‐standardised care. We have been living with this less than ideal situation for years, as have our patients. As a wound fraternity, we have learned to share experiences to ensure proliferation of best practices. We have done this both regionally and also globally. Is it too much to ask that governmental systems around the world share COVID experiences, deliver best practice, and get citizens vaccinated as quickly as possible?
If we are to return to some kind of normality in 2021, effective, efficient, and comprehensive coverage and protection are imperative. As many are saying ‘it's not the vaccine that saves lives it's the act of vaccination’.
The year 2021 is significant on many fronts. It is almost 60 years since Dr George Winter, the father of modern wound care, published his pivotal research. 2021 is also the year that the International Wound Journal became open access. This provides a means for more open and rapid dissemination of important research, sharing our collective experiences more easily. So, do not hesitate to publish your research in our high impact factor journal. In many circumstances, your employing institution or research funder pays the publication cost.
At this time of such major challenge, perhaps the most significant event is that our Editor (Douglas Queen) turns 60 in March, celebrating his second (his first being in 2020) and hopefully his last ‘pandemic birthday’. So if you feel inclined send him a special birthday wish, at the end of March, on his twitter account: @Editor_IWJ.
Most of all in 2021 let us continue to do our part to quash this global pandemic, not only as health carers but also as responsive global citizens.