London, Europe Brief News – COVID-19 pandemic will likely be with us forever. Here’s how we’ll live with it.
Eventually, the virus could become a much milder illness—but for now, vaccination and surveillance are critical to end the pandemic phase.
Since the pandemic began almost two years ago, the monster that is Covid-19 has visited every corner of Earth, killing more than 5.5 million people.
But we have fought back with astounding speed and vigour, and the situation today is very different from that in early 2020.
Ten billion vaccine doses will have been administered worldwide by early February. The Covax scheme has delivered 1bn vaccines to lower-income countries.
As a result, global daily deaths from the virus are at their lowest point in more than a year.
So, is the monster slain? No. Covid-19 will not just disappear. Only one human infectious disease has been eradicated from the planet – smallpox – and that took nearly 200 years. Polio is near to extinction, but it has taken a 70-year campaign.
Covid-19 may be even more troublesome. Unlike those viruses, Covid-19 has been able to easily adapt to find its way around human immunity.
Omicron, or its progeny, will probably be with us for decades to come.
Endemic Phase
Moderna co-founder Noubar Afeyan said 2022 may be the year the pandemic enters endemic phase.
Afeyan stressed the need to stay vigilant as the Omicron variant spreads
“2022 may be the year that the pandemic enters an endemic phase. But it really depends on what happens and the decisions across the world,” Afeyan said.
Although omicron is highly transmissible. “On the other hand it has a lesser effect in terms of seriousness of disease,” he said.
Afeyan’s statements came in total contradiction to the World Health Organization officials, who have said it’s too early to make that call as cases surge.
