[Desk Column] How Long Do We Have to Keep Getting Vaccinated?

"Those who are going to get infected will eventually have to get infected for this to end, right?", "I can't endure it any longer. I've had as many vaccines as I can, now it's time to face it head-on." These are the words spoken by acquaintances I met recently, along with complaints about "when will COVID-19 end?" They are not wrong. It has already been two years since COVID-19 entered Korea. Many people have received up to the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. They wore masks properly and strictly followed social distancing. They did everything the government and experts told them to do, so they question why they still cannot take off their masks. As the COVID-19 crisis prolongs, many have fallen into despair beyond anger.

The immune system is strengthened by being infected with a virus. To do so, antibodies must be formed either through natural infection or vaccination. When the fear of the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world, experts unanimously said vaccines would be a 'game changer.' They said antibodies would form after just one or two vaccinations, but then the Delta variant proved vulnerable, requiring a booster shot (additional vaccination). Gradually, the booster shot began to be called the third dose. Along with this came the notion that it was unclear how many more doses would be needed. There were predictions that vaccines might have to be taken every time a new variant emerges.

The government pulled out the card of the fourth dose. As research results emerged one by one showing little effect of the fourth dose against the Omicron variant, talk of the fourth dose has somewhat subsided. However, most experts expect that COVID-19 vaccines will have to be taken regularly like flu vaccines in the future. Perhaps the challenge of having to get vaccinated every three months might be even harder for humanity than the COVID-19 virus itself.

Overseas, countries are increasingly resuming the restoration of daily life (With COVID) that had been temporarily halted due to the spread of Omicron. Denmark will lift virtually all restrictions such as the vaccine pass, mandatory mask-wearing, and restaurant operating hour limits starting from the 1st of next month. Denmark’s daily new cases recently stand at about 46,000, but the number of patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) is only 40. France will also lift restrictions such as limits on the number of people allowed in public places, outdoor mask mandates, and mandatory remote work starting from the 2nd of next month. The UK, the Netherlands, Ireland, and others have also eased restrictions on restaurants, cafes, and pubs.

Looking at the vaccination rates of these countries, they are at levels similar to Korea. According to the data site 'Our World in Data' built by researchers at the University of Oxford in the UK, the vaccination completion rates of European countries such as Denmark (81%), France (76%), the Netherlands (72%), and the UK (71%) are not higher than Korea’s (85.5%). In Denmark, the third dose vaccination rate is over 60%, but Korea’s rate of 50.7% is not significantly lower.

The government and experts hope that COVID-19 will coexist with humanity like the flu as soon as possible, while not wanting the rapid spread of Omicron. Catching these two rabbits at once is not easy. However, if one is given up, the situation can be reversed. Are we now just dragging out a fight that could be ended quickly?

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.