Scientists Say Covid-19 May Become 'Endemic'. Here's What That Means
The coronavirus outbreak was first referred to as an epidemic, then a pandemic. Now you might be hearing scientists describing Covid-19 as ‘endemic’.
So, what’s the difference between these terms? If an epidemic refers to a disease that spreads rapidly within a community or region, a pandemic is an epidemic that has spread worldwide – crossing international boundaries and affecting a large number of people.
The government’s chief science adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, recently told a select committee on national security it’s “likely” that Covid-19 will become endemic. The definition of endemic, in the context of Covid-19, is a disease or something that is native to or commonly found within an area.
The suggestion here is that Covid-19 could become endemic in the UK, like the flu – with recurring outbreaks.
“Now of course we can’t be certain, but I think it’s unlikely we’ll end up with a truly sterilising vaccine – i.e. something that completely stops infection,” Vallance told MPs. “It’s likely that this disease will circulate and be endemic.”
Many experts on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) think this is “a likely outcome”, he added. “Clearly, as management becomes better, as you get vaccination which would decrease the chance of infection and severity of disease – or whatever the profiles of the vaccines are – this then starts to look more like annual flu than anything else. That may be the direction we go in.”
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