The Pandemic Isn’t Over Yet

By Eunice Kim

Cypress High School

Viruses are curious infectious agents that invade and proliferate. Naturally, when viruses are jumping from host to host new variants arise. The most common example would be the common flu or influenza virus. A new vaccine comes out annually, for the previous year’s virus variant, allowing immunity against that virus. However, not all mutations are as approachable as the flu.

Up until September 2020, there were no newly identified strains of SARS-CoV-2. That quickly changed as a mutated version was discovered in southeastern England. This new variant, B.1.1.7, as Johns Hopkins reports, “...quickly became the most common version of the coronavirus in the United Kingdom, accounting for about 60% of new COVID-19 cases in December.” Since then, more variants were detected in California, South Africa, Brazil, and more.

What does this mean for current efforts? Evidence has shown that new variants spread quicker and easier than other variants. This explains the rise in COVID-19 cases in the US, UK, and South Africa. As for vaccines, the CDC finds that “So far, studies suggest that antibodies generated through vaccination with currently authorized vaccines recognize these variants.” However, more research is necessary to make general conclusions.

Given the rise of COVID-19 and uncertainty regarding its lethality, virulence, and treatments, it wouldn’t be surprising to suggest that the pandemic could last longer than previously projected. So I interviewed two high school students to understand their take on the situation.

Daniel Kong, a junior at Sunny Hills High School, says that “Although there were slight signs of COVID cases decreasing, if there are new variations of the virus being found, it creates more issues regarding COVID-19 vaccines. With the rise of new variants for SARS-CoV-2, I see the pandemic lasting at the very least through the end of 2021.” This couldn’t be more true because scientists and healthcare professionals don’t understand how the variants differ from the previous trains, how the variants can affect current vaccines and tests, and more. The new strains only raise more questions.

Additionally, Kyle Min, a junior at Los Alamitos High School says “I fear that COVID-19 will be similar to the flu virus, in that the strain will change every year, so they have to create new vaccines every year. But if this is the case, then ultimately, we should be able to treat it like a cold.” While the concept of creating a new vaccine annually could become a possibility, downplaying COVID-19’s severity is troubling. It’s been known for a long time that the influenza virus and coronavirus have drastically different consequences, with SARS-CoV-2 being more dangerous. So it is a possibility that new strains will continue to emerge yearly, but it’s important to differentiate the realities of the common cold and COVID-19.

Until more information is elucidated, it’s imperative that we all stay at home, social distance, wash our hands, and wear a mask in public. The spread starts with you, so do your part to bring an end to this pandemic.