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As we turn the calendar page on the last month of 2020, the New Year can't arrive too soon. Although life appears to pass at "warp speed" and most recognize there aren't enough minutes left in our short stay on earth, I believe all would agree 2020 deserves to be seen in the rear view mirror. In the past 10 months all of our lives have been turned upside down by a pesky RNA genome, a coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 causing a disease COVID-19 that none of us is likely to forget.
Counting our blessings on Thanksgiving is an American tradition, yet other counts were and continue to reach record numbers. COVID-19 cases and deaths are sadly advancing to new heights with an ever decreasing numbers of hospital beds available to comfort those suffering from the possible coming of a "surge upon a surge," in the words of Dr. Anthony Fauci . The world has not witnessed an infectious pandemic event similar to this in over 100 years. This is uncharted territory with most Americans personally witnessing a family member, neighbor, colleague, acquaintance or others who have suffered the consequences of COVID-19. The COVID experience has become personal, not something viewed from afar.
The pandemic has expanded our vocabulary and educated us on the tools of public health practitioners. Masking, social distancing, hand hygiene, self-isolation, contact tracing, quarantine, shelter in place, travel restrictions are just some of the tools we are reminded of on a daily basis. Yet the numbers continue to climb.
How much more suffering? When will this end?
The simple answer: When the virus no longer has a place to live and reproduce. Yes, so-called herd immunity — defined as the time when a large portion of a community (the herd) becomes immune to the disease, making the spread of the disease from person to person unlikely. Only two paths achieve this goal: Active Immunity, following recovery from the disease, which is painful and potentially deadly; or Passive Immunity, the result of a vaccine.
Less than a year after the first outbreak of COVID-19 was reported in Wuhan, China, two vaccines are poised for FDA approval and several more are moving through clinical trials. Dr. Fauci describes the vaccines as the "cavalry" coming to our rescue. This astonishing speed of vaccine development will likely be remembered as an epic achievement of science.
Indeed, there are unknowns, and rolling out the vaccine will be complicated, confusing and most certainly controversial. Yet astonishing progress has been made in vaccine research in just over 11 months. Vaccine candidates under consideration are able to protect as many as 95% of all participants from contracting the coronavirus.
The initial vaccines are expected to require recipients to get two separate doses and will also require storing and transporting at extremely cold temperatures: minus 90 degrees like winter in Antarctica. Did I mention a "cold one"?
However, vaccines can't do their job unless people are ready and willing to receive them. Perhaps, the next most critical phase of our public response to the pandemic will be making a convincing case to our local, national and global communities in favor of vaccination. Estimates require 60-70% of the population must demonstrate immunity to COVID-19 to achieve herd immunity and break the chain of transmission.
The vaccine will be initially prioritized to front line health care workers and those most vulnerable, followed by the rest of us. Investigate for yourself to make an informed vaccine decision. So when it's your turn, won't you join me for a "cold one" and help put this virus to rest. Happy New Year!