Nearly two years after the Covid-19 pandemic began, it might be over.
Experts believe that Covid’s “pandemic” status will be lost sometime in 2022 due to rising global vaccination rates, and the development of antiviral Covid tablets that could spread next year.
Over the past century, influenza has followed a similar path from 1918’s Spanish flu pandemic to 2009’s swine flu pandemic.
Covid will likely remain dangerous even after the pandemic is over. This is similar to flu which claimed 62,000 lives in the U.S. from October 2019 through April 2020 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
However, unless there are major developments, normal post-pandemic life may be possible soon. Here are some things you can expect for the next year.
Covid could be more seasonal
Covid was once a common problem, but it won’t control your day-to-day decisions as much as Bill Gates, a billionaire health philanthropist and health philanthropist, said last week in his blog post: “It won’t be primary when you decide whether to work at home or go with your children to soccer practice or a movie in the theater.
Endémic illnesses can be found in all parts of the globe. However, they tend to cause milder diseases because more people have immunity from previous infections or vaccination. Although you might feel the sniffles and cough, if you have your vaccines up to date, you will be able to avoid serious illness or hospitalization.
Covid infection can peak at certain times of the year, just like other respiratory viruses. These are most likely in the colder winter and fall months. Therefore, flu and Covid seasons could often coincide.
If you are ill, it will be recommended that you continue wearing masks and stay home.
If the virus becomes more seasonal, masks could be worn on public transport and indoors during the Covid season, according to Shaun Truelove. This hub is a group of researchers who produce Covid projections.
Other prevention strategies such as regularly washing your hands or maintaining a distance in high-risk situations could also be useful.
“We don’t necessarily need to come up with new interventions [to stop Covid],” Dr. Timothy Brewer, an epidemiologist at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health said last week to CNBC Make It. It’s simply that we have to do a better job of continuing to do what we know works.
The cost of covid tests could be made more affordable and more accessible
Truelove says that if you have ever waited in a line for a Covid test or worried about your results being returned in time for an event you will know how frustrating it is.
Joe Biden, the President of the United States, announced in December that he would require private insurance companies to cover the cost for Covid-19 test kits at home. You could be eligible to get reimbursement for the Covid test you purchase at the pharmacy if you are one of the 150,000,000 Americans with private insurance.
Experts say the plan is flawed because not everyone can wait for reimbursement. Consumers would be responsible for filing a claim. Although at-home Covid testing has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, they can still be purchased for upwards of $20 per test.
Covid vaccinations will become more accessible to children.
Children aged 5-11 years old became eligible for the Covid vaccine on November 2. CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky stated Monday that seven million shots had been given to these children in December alone.
You might be wondering when vaccine eligibility will increase for children younger than 5. Scientists are currently trying to find the right dosage for each age group.
It is an important decision. It is important to determine the right dosage. Too much can cause unwanted side effects. However, too little will not protect your child.
The possibility of annual Covid boosters is possible
Walensky praised boosters Monday as the best defense against new Covid variants such as omicron. According to the CDC, currently, 27% of people who have been fully vaccinated are eligible for booster shots.
You might need to continue receiving Covid boosters. Experts believe that Covid vaccinations may become an annual event, much like your flu shot.
This could be a good thing. Each year, new Covid variants can keep popping up. The boosters can then be designed to combat the dominant variant at that time.
It could be difficult to convince people to do so. It can be difficult to convince people to get their flu shots. According to the CDC, 48% of Americans got a flu shot during the flu season that preceded Covid.