Even with the United States breaking a record for the number of Covid-19 deaths reported in a single day, Dr. Paul Offit told CNN’s New Day that there were several reasons to hope that the coronavirus situation could stay “ dramatically better ”soon.
Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Philadelphia Children’s Hospital and a member of the Food and Drug Administration’s Vaccine and Related Biologicals Advisory Committee, acknowledged that the “dire” numbers will likely continue for a few months, but said there are reasons to optimism:
Mass vaccinations
There are two “remarkably effective” vaccines and “we’re finally starting to figure out how to administer them in bulk,” said Offit, citing examples like the Pennsylvania Convention Center or Dodger Stadium. Meanwhile, two more vaccines – those from Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca – “are coming,” he added.
Warmer weather
“The climate will get hotter when the weather gets hot, which makes it much more difficult for this virus,” said Offit, explaining that when it is hot and humid, the virus, which spreads through small droplets, spreads less easily.
New political administration
Offit said the new Biden government “is not interested in this denial cult” that surrounded the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus, and “would solve this problem head-on”.
A population-building immunity
The number of people who have been infected with coronavirus – 23 million – is an underestimate, according to Offit. Many people have had an asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic infection and have never been tested. The number of infected people is probably close to 65 or 70 million, he said.
“This represents 20% of the population who, when they are exposed to this virus again, will not be sick,” he said, although it is unclear how long immunity lasts after infection.
If another 55 to 60% of the population can be vaccinated – something that Offit said can be done from one million to one and a half million doses a day – “then I really think that in June we can stop the spread of this virus.”