A local health expert says they’re ready to call the COVID pandemic an “endemic”, but it comes with the reminder the virus is still with us.
We still have to decide for ourselves whether we need to mask up and limit our activities, says UW Medicine’s Doctor Ali Mokdad, but he says despite Europe’s rising case numbers caused by the spread of the BA.2 sub-variant, the US will continue to see declines. He also says we’ll finally break the pattern of following what happens in Europe by a few weeks.
Mokdad tells Northwest Newsradio that our higher infection rates, superior mRNA vaccines and so many people having gotten a third dose are all difference-makers, “so we are in a much better position here in the United States,” Mokdad says. “We’re entering into our summer, so the fact that BA.2 is coming, arriving in the United States later in the season is going to help us as well.”
The term “endemic” doesn’t mean we’re done with COVID – only that we’ll have to live with it. We’ve learned about the tools that can help prevent virus spread, like masks, distancing and hand-washing, but the big push continues to be for as many of us as possible to get one of the COVID vaccines since the experts say they’ve been proven safe and effective.
We asked Naomi Wilson with Pierce County Health if they’re worried COVID booster rates will be as low as flu shot rates, which are usually below 50%, and she says she’s optimistic. Wilson says, “Hopefully this fall, when the CDC is working toward recommending boosters for those over 65, that they’re coming and getting their flu shot, maybe also their pneumococcal vaccine and getting their COVID booster all at the same time as somewhat of a routine.”
Since all these things have become part of our routine, Wilson says we’ve also learned the flexibility we need in case a new variant kicks us backward a few steps.