The world is about to start a new year with the coronavirus epidemic still in the background. In a battle led on two fronts with the Delta and Omicron variants, some countries are instating new restrictions while relying on the vaccination campaign. In such a context, it is hard to believe in the end of the epidemic.
But the World Health Organization has delivered a new message of hope: ending the epidemic by mid-2022. This is the goal announced by director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. But to make it, he hammers disadvantaged countries must be given better access to vaccine home. According to WHO director general, it is necessary to get at least 70% of the population vaccinated in each country to see this scenario come true.
Putting an end to the vaccinal inequity in the world is the major resolution of 2022. At the same time, some scientists hypothesize the Omicron variant could help ending the epidemic: more contagious, but less dangerous, it could enable to “complete” the goal of reaching herd immunity.
Covid: and what if the Omicron variant was to end the epidemic?
And what if Omicron was able to end the pandemic? This is what suggests virologist Yves Van Laethem, stating its high contagiousness and its weakened virulence might enable not-vaccinated people to be “immunized in a benign fashion”. [Read more]