Precisely two years in the past, on March 11 2020, the World Well being Group (WHO) declared COVID-19 a world pandemic.
This was two months after there have been studies of a thriller virus infecting individuals in Wuhan, essentially the most populous metropolis in central China. Early studies stated the virus didn’t seem like readily unfold by people.
Nicely, the SARS-CoV-2 virus may certainly be unfold by people. It shortly travelled world wide, and has to date contaminated greater than 450 million individuals.
COVID-19, the illness it causes, has to this point precipitated greater than six million deaths, making it probably the most lethal pandemics in historical past.
In these early days we knew little or no in regards to the virus and COVID.
Listed below are three issues we realised have been unsuitable because the pandemic wore on, and three issues we have to maintain an in depth eye on as we strategy the endemic section, the place the virus continues to flow into within the inhabitants at comparatively secure ranges.
1. Many have been frightened we wouldn’t get a vaccine
In early 2020 we didn’t know whether or not a vaccine towards SARS-CoV-2 was doable.
There had been earlier makes an attempt to develop vaccines towards extreme acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Center East respiratory syndrome (MERS), two comparable coronaviruses that additionally precipitated outbreaks this century. A couple of of those vaccines entered medical trials, however none have been authorized.
Earlier than COVID, the quickest developed vaccine was for mumps which took 4 years.
However in below 12 months, Pfizer/BioNTech developed a profitable vaccine. Now we have now 12 vaccines authorized for full use in several components of the world, 19 for emergency use, and greater than 100 nonetheless within the medical trial levels.
Each Pfizer and Moderna have additionally commenced medical trials of an Omicron-specific vaccine.
There are additionally a number of analysis teams world wide growing vaccines aiming to work towards all SARS-CoV-2 variants.
2. Some thought we didn’t want face masks
Within the early days, with out a vaccine, to cut back transmission we needed to depend on particular person preventative measures similar to hand hygiene, social distancing and face masks.
Though there was widespread acceptance hand washing and social distancing protected towards an infection, face masks have been rather more controversial.
Earlier than April 2020, the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) suggested towards the carrying of face masks by the general public. There have been apparently two causes for this.
First, the CDC was afraid there wasn’t a enough provide of surgical and N95 masks, which have been important in high-risk settings.
Second, it was thought on the time asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic individuals couldn’t transmit the virus (we now know they’ll).
Nonetheless, on April 3 2020, the CDC modified its recommendation and advisable most people put on multi-layered material face masks.
This has now been up to date to carrying a well-fitting masks that’s constantly worn.
With the appearance of Omicron, some specialists say material face masks aren’t as much as the duty and folks ought to not less than put on surgical masks, and even higher respirator masks like a P2, KN95 or N95.
Learn extra:
COVID masks mandates is perhaps largely gone however listed below are 5 causes to maintain carrying yours
3. We frightened rather a lot about floor transmission
Within the early days of the pandemic, it was thought contaminated surfaces have been a serious technique of COVID transmission.
Folks wore gloves when going to the grocery store (some nonetheless do), and washed meals packages as soon as they acquired dwelling.
Nonetheless, we now know the virus is unfold primarily by aerosol and droplet transmission.
When an individual coughs or sneezes, droplets containing mucous, saliva, water and virus particles can land on different individuals or drop onto surfaces.
Bigger droplets have a tendency to not journey very far and fall shortly.
Smaller droplets referred to as aerosols, can keep airborne for an prolonged time frame earlier than settling.
Scientists now consider transmission by touching contaminated surfaces is sort of uncommon.
3 issues to be careful for
There are three key points we’d like to concentrate on as COVID slowly turns into endemic.
1. New variants
There’s nonetheless the potential for brand spanking new and extra extreme variants to hit us. One of many predominant causes for that is the low charges of vaccination in lots of growing nations. The extra the virus replicates in unvaccinated populations, the larger the prospect of mutations and variants.
Vaccine producers Pfizer and Moderna both manufacture the vaccine in their very own amenities, or licence the best to supply the vaccine in different nations.
This places it out of attain financially for many growing nations, who then need to depend on the COVAX initiative for provides. COVAX is a worldwide facility funded by developed nations and donor organisations to buy vaccines to be distributed to growing nations.
Researchers on the Texas Youngsters’s Hospital’s Middle for Vaccine Growth have unveiled a protein-based vaccine referred to as Corbevax. It makes use of established and easy-to-manufacture expertise, and is being supplied patent-free to growing nations. It has now obtained emergency use authorisation in India.
It has over 80% efficacy towards symptomatic illness, although that is towards the no-longer dominant Delta variant. Trials are at present below strategy to decide its efficacy towards Omicron.
If authorized, this could tremendously assist raise vaccination charges in lots of growing nations.
Learn extra:
CORBEVAX, a brand new patent-free COVID-19 vaccine, might be a pandemic recreation changer globally
2. Waning immunity
Many older and weak individuals had their third dose in November or December final yr, with their immunity now waning quick.
We have to present a fourth vaccine dose as quickly as doable to the aged and weak.
3. Lengthy COVID
Politicians are ignoring lengthy COVID.
With 1000’s of circumstances a day in Australia, over the subsequent yr we might be getting a tsunami of individuals affected by long-term well being issues.
So, we merely can’t ignore excessive case numbers and can be smart to retain not less than some public well being measures (for instance, face masks mandates) with the intention to deliver case numbers down.
Some excellent news is that Australia’s Medical Analysis Future Fund might be funding analysis into lengthy COVID this yr.
Learn extra:
Lengthy COVID: For the 1 in 10 sufferers who grow to be long-haulers, COVID-19 has lasting results
The start of the tip
State and territory governments at the moment are dismantling public well being measures similar to the usage of QR codes, social distancing measures and face masks mandates.
Their pondering is that though case numbers are nonetheless fairly excessive, hospitalisations are taking place – and naturally, elections are in sight. Chief public well being officers, who used to offer each day briefings, at the moment are hardly ever seen.
“Give us our freedom again” is now a generally heard cry, even when the inevitable consequence means that is on the expense of aged and weak individuals.
In a nutshell, many consider we have now moved already from epidemic to endemic standing.
As a lot as all of us want for this to be over and life to get again to regular, we aren’t fairly there but.
However I believe with higher vaccines and improved remedies on the way in which, it’s not less than the start of the tip.
Adrian Esterman doesn’t work for, seek the advice of, personal shares in or obtain funding from any firm or organisation that will profit from this text, and has disclosed no related affiliations past their tutorial appointment.
