When Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at the University of Oxford, and one of the scientists behind the AstraZeneca vaccine warned of a worse pandemic heading towards us next, I doubt many people cared.
With the new Omicron variant causing panic across the world and the number of new cases with this variant being detected on the rise, we are just simply left wondering what is next.
Haven’t we faced the worst yet?
It doesn’t help when scientists, the World Health Organization and even vaccine manufacturers start issuing conflicting statements that only serve to confuse the layman.
Are the two doses of Sinovac followed by the Pfizer booster shot enough to keep me safe from big bad Covid-19?
I hope so. I am pretty sure everyone else in my situation is thinking the same thing.
Quickly and quietly
When the world was informed of a possible pandemic stemming from several strange flu-like cases that were linked to a market selling exotic meat in Wuhan, China in December 2019, few people took it seriously. Things changed in the next couple of months.
Major outbreaks before this, such as the spread of the Zika virus, SARs and H1N1, seemed to disappear after the global alarm was raised.
Who would have believed that something worse was heading our way?
During the early days of the pandemic, people were drawn to news of fights that broke out in supermarket aisles over toilet paper, people hoarding groceries and reports of Asians being attacked in certain countries.
But when the frightening death tolls across the world began, we got a little scared. That did not last long as many still refused to follow simple rules advised by the Health Ministry. How hard was it to wear a mask, avoid social gatherings and maintain social distancing?
The personal hygiene part might be a bit tough, considering water cuts seem to be the norm if you live in Klang Valley.
Before the vaccines were discovered and made available worldwide, there were governments and communities across the world who decided to put the herd immunity theory to the test.
Essentially, this meant that if enough people built natural immunity against the disease, they could stop the disease on its tracks. The opposite happened.
Once vaccines became available, we faced other issues. There were anti-vaxxers and their delightful views that were sometimes so over-the-top, even a hard-boiled conspiracy nut would say was rubbish.
Remember the whole theory that the vaccine was a means to implant us with some microscopic device?
Some people would rather take Ivermectin, a medication given to animals to treat heartworm and other parasites. Though it was prescribed at one point during the pandemic to patients who were really badly off, many would rather take it than get vaccinated.
We put our hopes on vaccinations and the government to impose strict rules. Taking precautions and being responsible for one’s actions is something not everyone can be convinced to do.
The common attitude is, “It will not happen to me. I have been careful.” I know a few people who believed that and ended up with Covid-19.
Two years later, with millions dead and countless infections across the globe, Covid-19 and its many variants want you to know that you can't get rid of it yet.
Vaccinations help reduce the effects of this deadly virus but don't stop you from getting infected again or being a carrier.
The fact that there is a global disparity between rich countries with an abundant supply of vaccines and poor countries that do not is heartbreaking.
After two years of surviving a global pandemic, we still seem to know nothing.
No one seems to bother
Just when you think it is safe to go back to our old way of life, a new variant pops up somewhere in the world and somehow makes it to our shores.
Omicron will not be the last variant to give us a scare. Whether or not it is less dangerous than previous variants such as Delta is beside the point.
The human race tends to get complacent quickly, and that is a big problem.
After the way Covid-19 beleaguered our economies, our source of income, our sanity, we still refuse to embrace the new norm and immediately go back to our old habits the moment restrictions are relaxed.
Hordes of people rushed to vacation spots, public recreational areas and malls.
I have seen so many people enjoying themselves on social media with not a mask in sight.
As for social distancing, no one seems to bother.
The oddest thing is that there seem to be more private vehicles on the road now because many are afraid of taking public transport. Many of these people hang out at crowded malls and public recreational areas.
It is as though they are doing some strange checks and balances ritual, thinking this will ward off Covid-19.
So far, Omicron is not wreaking havoc like Delta. But it is spreading fast.
It is frightening to think that the worst is yet to come.
So why aren’t we afraid? - Mkini
INDRA SATHIABALAN is a member of the Malaysiakini Team.
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