Image via Getty / Al Bello
The World Health Organization reported that while the COVID-19 pandemic has been ruthless, “it is not necessarily the biggest”.
O Guardian reports that experts also said that we will have to learn to live with the virus and that the “destiny” of COVID is to become endemic, although vaccines are already being distributed in the United States and the United Kingdom, according to Professor David Heymann, president of the advisory group WHO strategic and technical plan for infectious risks.
“The world is waiting for collective immunity, that transmission will somehow be diminished if enough people are immune,” he said. He also said that the world’s understanding of collective immunity was misinterpreted.
“It looks like the fate of SARS-CoV-2 [Covid-19] it is becoming endemic, like four other human coronaviruses, and it will continue to mutate as it reproduces in human cells, especially in areas of more intense intake. “He continued:” Fortunately, we have tools to save lives, and they, in combination with good public health, will allow us to learn to live with Covid-19. “
Dr Mark Ryan, head of WHO’s emergency program, said: “The likely scenario is that the virus will become another endemic virus that will remain a threat, but a very low level threat in the context of a global vaccination program. effective. “
He added: “It remains to be seen how well vaccines are delivered, how close we have come to a level of coverage that can give us the opportunity to go for elimination. The existence of a vaccine, even with high efficacy, does not guarantee the elimination or eradication of an infectious disease. This is a very high barrier that we must overcome. “
While the goal of the vaccine is to save lives and protect those who are susceptible, Ryan said the next pandemic could be worse. “This pandemic was very severe … it affected every corner of the planet. But this is not necessarily the big problem, ”he said, calling COVID-19“ an alert ”.
Preventive measures like the vaccine also do not mean that social distance should not be practiced in the future. The effectiveness of the vaccine has yet to be seen, with doubts arising as to whether it will decrease the rate of infection or stop transmission of the virus.
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