welcome back to cheddar everyone.
The macron surge has certainly not given us the year end celebration
that we needed.
After a year of major covid 19 development including a surgeon to year end,
but a year ago today,
nobody really was scientifically protected against the virus.
Now over three billion people worldwide are vaccinated
and that's close to half the population.
Well, we do know that our next guest is the expert on this.
And on the last day of 2021 we have some promising hopes for 2022.
As experts say that at some point next year
the pandemic should officially become an endemic.
And while it is a milestone to acknowledge,
it doesn't mean that we're free of infections, illnesses and deaths.
So joining me now to discuss is dr
rajiv Fernando infectious disease specialist at Beth Israel Hospital
And a fellow there doctor, thank you so much for coming on the show.
The final day of 2021.
Is there hope
that 2022 can be better
and thank you so much for having me.
And uh that's the million dollar question that all of us have as experts.
Uh, it's a it's not a matter of whether it will happen.
It's a matter of when this will happen and I have some things to to talk about which
is uh some of the factors I feel that
will influence the transition of this pandemic into an endemic
personally, I would start off by saying human behavior really influences this
now.
We haven't had these situations before with other viruses
but certainly in this case I feel human behavior.
What we do, what we do for vaccines?
Whether we accept vaccines, whether we get vaccinated, all of this is going to
caused this pandemic to transition much faster.
The second thing christian I'd like to mention is global vaccine equity.
Now let's say places like new york city, uh some some parts of new york city,
up to 90% of people have actually got a single dose.
Now let's contrast that to the african continent
where this common ground variant actually came out of
7.5% of the population in Africa Have gotten a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The COVID-19 vaccine is the most expensive vaccine in the history of mankind.
And this is turning out to be a problem.
So those Chris and I feel the top two reasons and how we can get out of this pandemic.
So firstly, of course human behavior, we have to learn our lesson and understand
we as a as a race as humanity. We've got to do this together.
Otherwise this is not going to happen and give
more vaccines for the rest of the world.
I think that those are two really good takeaways and
lessons especially as we look to our own part,
how we can benefit public health in 2022.
Hopefully a goal for many people.
Maybe a resolution. In fact here as we look to ring in the new year this evening.
My question is,
what is the technical medical definition of an endemic and how does
it differ from a pandemic which we have been in for most?
Well, really since the coronavirus set in in March of 2020.
That's a good question.
And really the first way is when we have,
we're able to predict the viral patterns where
we're able to predict certain behaviors and say,
well, let's talk about the influenza for example.
We know flu season starts sometime, you know, towards the end of the year,
october november.
Going all the way into March spring the following year.
We know how to get, we should get vaccinated.
We predict that roughly 50,000 deaths every year. That's acceptable.
Of course, any depth is not acceptable. But that's something we know every year.
The flu causes certain amount of debt.
We know it happens and that's what we call endemic right now with COVID-19,
it's impossible to predict the way this is going In March 2020.
It was really like we had the virus that came out of nowhere and then it just went away.
That's because human behavior largely changed that. We stayed at home.
There were lockdowns, there's masks mandates and this really changed.
You could really put this in perspective. No vaccines were available at the time.
Human behavior changed the whole course of the pandemic.
And now what's really driving this pandemic is lack
of vaccination for the rest of the world.
These variants are going to come out from countries
immune uh impoverished countries like the african continent,
parts of Asia.
We had Delta come from India poor countries.
And that's what the United States should focus on the rest of the world.
And helping them
Dr. Let me ask you this.
What are the expectations in terms of
vaccine distribution around the world in 2022?
Are you hopeful
that we will see more equity when it comes to vaccine distribution?
Absolute. I have no doubt whatsoever.
Kristen I think all of us have learned that we should
be focusing on these countries and this is a pandemic.
Not an endemic a pandemic which goes all over the world.
So it's not good enough to say New York City has 90% vaccinated with a single dose.
It's really important for the rest of the world to be vaccinated.
And that's how we end this
antiviral pills. We've seen the U. K. For instance
get a new wave millions of these antiviral pills from
Fizer allowing Mark to distribute its antiviral pills as well.
A doctor. We focus so much on vaccinations.
How crucial are these pills these treatments
to also getting past this pandemic status.
Yeah this is a this is gonna save millions of lives this winter all over the world.
If you can get these pills to people uh this
is not the answer to end the pandemic though.
It's gonna temporary.
Which means you have to get sick. And uh
you can be on your way to the hospital. Remember these pills have its limitations.
It has to be given very early.
So places let's take for example where you're trying to
get a test and you're waiting for 3-4 days,
you get the test, you wait a couple more days, the result,
it's too late to take the pill.
So there are other considerations in this as well, pills are great.
But vaccines are what's going to end this pandemic and help the world.
How important is wearing a mask?
There's been so much focus again on vaccinations, on booster shots
testing
but is wearing a mask still important to containing the virus.
Yeah, I think it's very critical and masks may be here to stay.
We have to watch out for that. Let me tell you.
So I remember like about 56 years ago I was traveling in Tokyo and
you know people who are coughing it was there everyone was wearing a mask.
It's considered respectful if you're cough, you have an operator tract infection.
Everyone were wearing masks.
This is something parts of Asia when I was in Wuhan China to investigate
this COVID-19 virus in early 2020 despite
the government actually not recommending masks.
I saw everyone in Wuhan China wearing their masks.
So it's a culture over there when someone has a respiratory illness.
Everybody's wearing their masks. The masks are very important to
to end this one positive thing,
I will say kristen and this as bad as the situation is right now, the omicron variant.
One important thing that will help the world get all get past
the pandemic into MdMS City is having a super contagious virus.
What we a super contagious variant, which is what we have right now.
It's going to infect
everyone. People who are not careful. It'll go right through you.
So that might be one of the factors. I think that will help end the pandemic.
But who knows?
And once again, if we have vaccine shortages,
new variants will come out the next letter in the greek alphabet is the pie.
So we may have a pie variant
unless humanity acts together to win this
dr. My last question to you is it is a holiday weekend. Tonight's New Year's Eve.
Tomorrow is New Year's Day.
For those who are planning to gather to go to events perhaps,
what are some best practices and things to consider to keep you and your family safe.
Yeah, so, great question kristen.
And I think some of the things you have to
do is be respectful to yourself and other people.
So if you're going for a get together a party,
make sure you carry a vaccine card or get a test just before you're going to the party.
So at that time people know when you're entering the event
that you are vaccinated or your recently tested
its negative when you're going into these areas
open all the windows, keep ventilation good and of course distance,
as much as you can.
So these are some of the important things trying
to keep the crowd lowered out historically with myself,
when I throw a party, I like to have a lot of people over not this christmas,
I'm not throwing one this year of course, but
make sure you keep your the people who are coming very intimate and
close so uh that we can have these bigger parties next year,
but right now because we have one of the most dangerous variants known to mankind,
better to keep the numbers low.
Doctor thank you so much for your time and and really to the entire
medical community who I know has been working tirelessly for the past two years,
throughout this pandemic to try to keep everyone safe and as healthy as possible,
dr rajiv Fernando infectious disease specialist at
Beth Israel Hospital and a fellow there,
we are grateful to you