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Moderna CEO predicts pandemic will be over and life will become normal next year

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On Wednesday, the CEO of vaccine manufacturer Moderna predicted that the COVID pandemic would be over in a year, comparing it to the current flu situation.

The pandemic should be brought under control by the second half of next year, according to Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel, with increased vaccine supplies globally.

According to Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel, as vaccine production increases around the world, the pandemic could be over in a year.

“If you look at the industry-wide expansion of production capacities over the past six months, enough doses should be available by the middle of next year so that everyone on this earth can be vaccinated. Boosters should also be possible to the extent required,” Stephane Bancel told Swiss newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung, according to a translation by the Reuters news agency.

He also stated that vaccinations for infants would be available soon, increasing protection as the world grapples with the spread of the highly infectious delta variant.

According to Bancel, the highly contagious nature of the delta variant may result in natural immunisation of even those who are not vaccinated.

“Those who do not get vaccinated will immunize themselves naturally, because the Delta variant is so contagious,” Bancel said. “In this way we will end up in a situation similar to that of the flu. You can either get vaccinated and have a good winter, or you don’t do it and risk getting sick and possibly even ending up in hospital.”

Asked when that could cause a return to normal, he responded, “As of today, in a year, I assume.”

Moderna is currently testing delta-optimized vaccine variants in clinical trials, which will serve as the foundation for booster vaccinations in 2022, according to Bancel.

“They will form the basis for the booster vaccination for 2022. We are also trying out Delta plus Beta, the next mutation that scientists believe is likely,” he said.

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Brendan Taylor

Brendan Taylor was a TV news producer for 5 and a half years. He is an experienced writer. Brendan covers Breaking News at Insider Paper.







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