A vaccine will help fight but not end the COVID-19 Pandemic
As COVID-19 infections nearly reach 8 million in the United States, many wonder when life will get back to normal. Most Americans are hinging the return to normalcy on a COVID-19 vaccine being available by early 2021.
Scientists worldwide are working in overdrive on potential treatments and vaccines for COVID-19 with global infections reaching 32 million. While having a safe vaccine by early
What does this mean for the future of infection control? There is a lot to consider.
Vaccine efficacy rate
The efficacy rate is an important consideration.
For comparison, the flu vaccination reduces the risk of flu illness by between 40% and 60%, according to the Centers for Disease Control. That means that even with a COVID-19 vaccine, there will still be transmission on some scale. The hope is that there will be a vaccine with at least 75% efficiency. That would reduce the number of protective measures needed to avoid transmission.
However, the FDA has said they will approve a vaccine at least 50% effective. That doesn’t mean that a vaccine with a lower efficiency rate would have little impact. Still, it does mean that social distancing and mask-wearing would have to continue until the virus runs its course, a stronger vaccine is approved, or 100% of people are vaccinated.
Vaccination Rate
The number of people that get the vaccine is crucial. The fewer people who get vaccinated, the higher the efficiency rate would be to prevent infections. If the vaccine is only 50% effective, 100% of people would need to get the vaccine to end the pandemic. It seems unlikely given that polls show that only three-quarters of Americans would get the vaccine if assured it was safe.
With fewer people protected, a vaccine would need to be at least 80% effective to stop the Pandemic by itself, meaning without social distancing and mask-wearing.
Scientists are doubtful that the first round of vaccines will be effective enough to stop the Pandemic.
Remaining vigilant
Even with a vaccine, we will have to continue to social distance, wear a mask, disinfect, and practice proper hand hygiene. As multiple vaccines make it to the final round of testing, one thing to keep in mind is that we will have to remain vigilant about the current safety measures we perform now.
Until we have broad use of the vaccine, and a lot of population has it, you’re going to have to rely on other things. The vaccine is just one part of the puzzle. We will all still have to do our collective parts for at least a year or two after the vaccine is distributed.
American-made infection control
Safetec of America recognizes that we provide products essential in the fight against the global COVID-19 Pandemic and are making significant changes to increase our manufacturing capabilities. In response to COVID-19, Safetec expansion plans are underway with investments for additional warehouse space and new equipment. The added third facility and new machinery will increase our capacity, output, and finished goods inventory to help our customers stay safe and protected with the ongoing battle of COVID-19.
View our COVID-19 product page and check out our surface disinfectants effective against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and our line of hand hygiene products.
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