How Will the COVID-19 Pandemic End?

Abstract

More than two years after the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, the status of the disease is still unclear to us. Up to August 1, 2022, the disease has killed about 6.4 million people worldwide, although the actual death toll is estimated to be three times more than the official death toll [1]. During this time, safe vaccines with high efficacy against the virus have been developed, methods of viral transmission and pathogenicity are better understood, and more effective treatments have been proposed that have helped better control the disease over time. A significant percentage of the world's population has acquired the infection at least once, more than 65% of the world's population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and about 25% have received at least one booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. More than 12 billion doses have been administered globally, with 5.5 million added daily. However, the vaccine distribution is inequitable, and in low-income countries, only about 20% of people have received at least one dose of the vaccine [2]. Along with vaccines, antiviral drugs are another important achievement available. Many antiviral drugs, such as molnupiravir, fluvoxamine, and paxlovid have shown good therapeutic effects for COVID-19 patients [3].