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We’ve heard the words ‘COVID fatigue’ thrown around a great deal to explain why people decided to abandon physical distancing or their masks over the past few months, which has led to a rise in cases and a second wave of infections in South Africa.

The success of efforts to create vaccines, which are being rolled out worldwide, has also provided hope that there’s an end to this thing, although some countries are having more success than others when it comes to obtaining and distributing it.

But, while it looks like an end might be in sight, a group of medical practitioners, who attended this year’s JPMorgan healthcare conference (virtually), seem to share a different opinion, and it isn’t pretty.

The Financial Times reports that the healthcare industry is preparing for an enduring war on the virus.

“We do believe more so than we did, let’s say four to six months ago, that there will be a level of testing that will continue certainly through FY ’22,” said Tom Polen, chief executive of Becton Dickinson, the New Jersey-based manufacturer of syringes and tests.

So, another two years, and that, says Stephen Tang, chief executive of OraSure Technologies, is optimistic.

“The need to have tests available to continue to test for Covid-19 will last well beyond 2022, certainly in the sophisticated economies,” said Mr Tang.

“And then for the low- and middle-income countries, perhaps well into 2027 or 2030, unfortunately. But I think that’s the state of play for this virus and the world populations.”

The people who can really provide some clarity on the situation are most likely those who created the vaccine and have therefore been working closely with COVID-19 to develop an understanding of how it works, and how to beat it.

“We know that it’s changing and whether it’s changing a little or a lot, that is something that we’re anticipating,” said Angela Hwang, a Pfizer [BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine creators] executive, pondering the virus’s ability to mutate.

“So we may be in a place where we may need a new vaccine.”

The current supply of vaccines, despite their efficacy, are vulnerable to being rendered useless if they aren’t administered to as many people as possible as fast as possible.

That’s something which our very own Professor Linda-Gail Bekker, deputy director of the University of Cape Town’s Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, echoed when asked to respond to the fact that a number of people are saying that they don’t want, and won’t accept, the vaccine.

Before we all delve into a deep depression, however, we have some control over the situation.

Wear a mask, and wash your hands.

It’s been a constant refrain since March last year.

It’s simple and it’s effective, so just keep it up.

[source:financialtimes]