What type of interventions does pandemic mitigation rely on?

Pandemic mitigation primarily relies on nonpharmaceutical interventions because these strategies aim to reduce transmission of infectious diseases without the use of medication. Nonpharmaceutical interventions are critical during pandemics as they can include measures such as social distancing, quarantine, travel restrictions, and hygiene protocols, which help limit the spread of the virus among populations. These actions are particularly vital in situations where vaccines or specific treatments are not available, providing immediate and practical means to protect public health.

While pharmaceutical interventions, such as vaccines and antiviral medications, are crucial in managing infectious diseases, they are often developed and administered after the immediate onset of a pandemic. Social media campaigns and economic stimulus measures play important roles in supporting public health initiatives and stabilizing society during crises, but they do not directly mitigate the spread of the disease in the same immediate and structural way that nonpharmaceutical interventions do.