The deadly coronavirus will stay with humans at least for the next 10 years. According to BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin, the infection will continue to wreak havoc on humankind for a decade. Sahin said that he sees no immediate relief from the virus and life will not return to normal in the near future even as vaccines are made available. The reaction from BioNTech CEO comes when the world is grappled with the Covid-induced crisis amid the spread of newer strains in a few countries. Sahin said that humans will have to find a new definition of normal as the virus will stay for a minimum of ten years. BioNTech is a Mainz-based German biotechnology company.
BioNTech manufactures immunotherapies for the treatment of diseases by amplifying the immune system. According to the biotechnology company’s claim, its vaccine against coronavirus has been authorized for use in multiple countries. As many as 45 nations have already given nod for using its vaccine which is being developed in collaboration with Pfizer. The countries that have approved using the vaccine include the US and the UK. According to Sahin, its vaccine has the potential to be adjusted for the new variant of virus found in Britain. He said that the new variant will not impact its efficacy.
The new strain of coronavirus has become a cause of concern for the world. It is yet to be seen what effect it could create. It is said to be nearly 70 percent more transmissible. Several countries have already taken preventive measures to limit the spread of the strain. The rapid spread of the virus in the south and east England triggered the government to impose a fresh lockdown. Several countries also suspended flight services. The US government issued an order wherein it said that passengers coming from the UK must test negative for the virus to gain entrance. Notably, after the discovery of the new variant in Britain, the country reported the highest number of deaths in the week ending December 26 after April.
