The leading epidemiologist at the Charité University Medical Center in Berlin, Christian Dosten, considers it very likely that “we will enter the endemic phase during 2022 and be able to declare the end of the pandemic.”
In an interview with Tagesspiegel am Sonntag, Drosten stressed that the Omicron variant with its milder consequences is an opportunity, it is like a moving train. At some point you have to jump on this train, otherwise you will not get anywhere. “Because there is no alternative, sooner or later everyone will be infected or should be infected by Sars-Cov-2.”
Population immunity to the coronavirus in adults is developing in a “clear direction”, notes the German epidemiologist and adds: “The population creates immunity and maintains it”. “A large percentage of this process is already achieved through vaccinations,” notes Christian Drosten. However, he adds, it is important to vaccinate as many people as possible.
Drosten also hopes the vaccine could be sprayed with “weakened viruses or a modern variant” sprayed into the nose to create mucosal immunity. “This would be much better protection against transmission, the next milestone,” he said.
Asked if we would return to a normal life like before the pandemic, Drosten replied: “Yes. “I'm absolutely sure of that.”
