Moderna CEO: "COVID-19 Pandemic Will End Within One Year"

"Booster Shots Needed Every 1 to 3 Years... Will Eventually Resemble the Flu"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] The CEO of Moderna, a U.S. company developing COVID-19 vaccines, predicted that the COVID-19 pandemic will end within a year.

According to Fox News on the 23rd (local time), Moderna CEO St?phane Bancel said in an interview with Swiss media that "as vaccine manufacturers increase production, by mid-next year, there will be enough supply for everyone on Earth to be vaccinated."

When asked if this means a "return to normal life," he replied, "As of today, I estimate that will happen within a year."

He forecasted that booster shots (additional vaccinations to extend immunity) will be needed every 1 to 3 years and predicted, "Eventually, it will be a situation similar to the flu."

He added, "You will either get vaccinated and get through the winter well, or you will not get vaccinated and might end up hospitalized due to illness?one of the two."

He also stated, "We are conducting clinical trials to respond to the Delta variant," and "We plan to start administering new booster shots from next year."

CEO Bancel further added, "The vaccine's selling price will not change."

U.S. media emphasized that to make COVID-19 remain a seasonal virus as CEO Bancel predicted, the immunity gap between wealthy and poor countries must be reduced.

In fact, nearly 80% of the population in wealthy countries have received at least one vaccine dose, but in poor countries, this rate drops to 20%.

While the U.S. and the U.K. are considering booster shots, most African countries have vaccination rates in the single digits.

UN Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres criticized world leaders attending the UN General Assembly on the 22nd, saying, "It is disgusting that some countries stockpile vaccines and sometimes even discard them."