We have been going through this challenging time with the COVID for almost two years, and optimism to end COVID might finally be in sight. COVID will follow us, but the virus will likely become “endemic,” eventually getting less in severity. In a January survey of more than 100 immunologists, infectious-disease researchers, and virologists, almost 90% said that SARS-Cov-2, the virus that causes Covid, will become endemic. Having said that, if we look back in history, strains of influenza have followed a similar pattern over the past century or more, from the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 to the swine flu pandemic in 2009. An equivalent way was seen in the 2011 Influenza A pandemic, and it has now emerged with COVID-19. This pattern shows the COVID-19 pandemic is burning out. Many world-renowned experts believe that many people worldwide will have immune protection from vaccination and natural infection. As a result, there will be less transmission and much less COVID-related hospital admission and death even as viruses continue to circulate.
Covid could become much more seasonal.
Endemic disease always tries to circulate globally but tends to have mild symptoms because people develop immunity from either vaccination or immunity from natural infections. It’s going to ultimately become endemic like any other rhinoviruses (like the common cold) we live with,” However, we may need an annual vaccination to protect ourselves against the infection. This variant will peak at the end of spring. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, also predicted a “return to normal life” sometime in the spring, reports Fox Business, citing an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro.
Covid tests could get more affordable and accessible
In early December, President Joe Biden proposed a plan to require private insurance companies to cover the cost of rapid at-home Covid-19 tests. If you’re one of the 150 million people in the U.S. with private health insurance, you could potentially get reimbursed for a Covid test that you buy at the drug store. Also, for those people who are unable to access health reimbursement, there are home COVID kits that are approved by food and drug administration and are widely available at the drug store at affordable costs.
Free coronavirus vaccines and booster shots are (finally) widely available
Your best defense against covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, is to be fully vaccinated. One year ago, vaccines were mostly available to only healthcare workers. For months in early 2021, most of us had to anxiously wait for our turns to get vaccines . From this new year 2022, vaccines are now widely available to anyone over age 5. Booster shots are also available to most adults and 12 years and older and early data indicates these shots will provide greater protection against the omicron variant and will reduce the likelihood of serious illness or death.