Episode 41: Learning to Live With Covid

Additional resources

Living with COVID-19

Q1: I have heard people talk about COVID-19 being “endemic.” Does that mean COVID is over? 

No, COVID is definitely not over. The term “endemic” means the disease is still with us, but it doesn’t cause widespread death and disruption. The seasonal flu is an example of an endemic disease. Public health officials can predict the flu’s behavior; this is why we can say we have a “flu season”. And  with an endemic, the disease doesn’t overwhelm our healthcare system or interrupt the way society functions much.  

With COVID-19, we have not yet reached the point of being endemic like the flu. The virus is still circulating, and public health officials can’t predict its patterns. We have had seen surges (like Delta) during warm weather months when people spend more time outdoors, and we’ve seen surges (like Omicron) during cold weather months when people spend more time indoors. 

We are hopeful that enough people will gain immune protection from vaccination and from natural infection that there will be less transmission and much less COVID-19-related hospitalization and death, even as the virus continues to circulate.

Q2: How long will it take for COVID-19 to become endemic?

Unfortunately, we don’t know the answer to that question yet. It depends on several factors, like how long people are able to maintain immune protection from vaccination and natural infection. The answer is also effected by the lack of COVID-19 mitigation policies in some countries and the lack of vaccines. These factors affect how well we are able to control the spread of COVID-19.  

In Oregon, we monitor positive COVID-19 test samples, as well as wastewater samples from around the state. If a new variant emerges or a new surge is coming, this monitoring system will help us know and help us respond quickly.

Q3: Will we continue to see some folks wearing masks? 

Yes, I think so, for the time being. Even though most indoor masks requirements were lifted March 11, OHA continues to recommend that folks who are at high risk of getting COVID-19, or work or live with someone at high risk, continue to wear masks.

You’ll also continue to see requirements to wear masks in health care settings, such as hospitals, doctor offices, dentist offices and places like that. And the federal government still requires people to wear masks on public transit and in airports and on airplanes through April 18.

Q4: How can we help protect people who are immunocompromised now that the mask requirement has been lifted?

The best thing we can all do to protect ourselves and our communinties is to get vaccinated and boosted. You can also help slow the spread of COVID-19 by wearing a mask in crowded indoor settings where you don’t know everyone’s vaccination status, and wearing a mask around people who are at high risk, and washing your hands frequently. 

Q5: When will kids under 5 be eligible for the vaccine?

As you may have seen in the news, vaccination makers have indicated they will seek emergency authorization to use their vaccines for children under six. That request is undergoing scientific review and will have to go through the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, for approval, and then through the Western States Workgroup here in Oregon, before approved.

So far, what we've seen is that kids infected with COVID-19 have had very mild symptoms compared to adults. However with Omicron, we saw a lot more children ending up in the hospital and unfortunately, more kids dying. What the vaccines have shown repeatedly is that they are very, very safe and they're very effective. Especially at preventing severe illness and hospitalization. This is why it's highly recommended for children to get vaccinated. Hopefully vaccines will be rolled out for the five and under in the next few months. And hopefully, the parents will line up to get their kids vaccinated.

So what would the dosing be? Is it the same for a 1-year-old versus a 3-year-old to a 5-year-old? 

That is what they're working on right now. They are trying to figure out what dosage to give those age groups. What early reports are showing is that the 6-month-old and 4-year-old require the same dose, which is three doses of these vaccines.

As of right now, the best thing you can do to protect kids under 5 is to get vaccinated and boosted, and that includes everyone in the child’s circle-family members, caregivers, parents and grandparents.

Q6: We are all experiencing COVID fatigue.  The thought of going back into quarantine is not favorable.  We are ready to move on with our lives.  We hear a lot about booster shots, even a FOURTH booster.  Do they really work? Do we still need them?

Yes boosters are very important and effective!  

So there's been a lot of talk about whether or not we should get a fourth dose. And part of it is because there are some countries like Israel that rolled out four doses. They've been doing this for about two months now. This is because we know that our immune system begins to wane after a while. The analogy that I like to use is our cell phones. When you get your phone, it has the latest software. After six months or so, you get a notification to update your software operating system so that your phone continues to run smoothly. The same thing is true with vaccines. After a while, your immune system forgets how to mount a response. Boosters upgrade the cellular infrastructure in your body to say, “Hey, this is what this virus looks like and this is how you find it.” And then there are some people who have immune systems that are not as robust. For instance, people who are older than 65 get double the dosage of flu shot every year. So if you're immunocompromised, meaning if you have cancer, if you have to take medications that weaken your immune system, or if you're over 65 then it's a good idea to get an extra shot. The CDC hasn't come out and said this, but that's where we're headed. What we saw with the Omicron surge was that people who got boosted ended up with significantly less hospitalizations and significantly less serious illness.

Document accessibility: For individuals with disabilities or individuals who speak a language other than English, OHA can provide information in alternate formats such as translations, large print, or braille. Contact the Health Information Center at 1-971-673-2411, 711 TTY or COVID19.LanguageAccess@dhsoha.state.or.us.