Predictions For COVID-19 Pandemic Ends Next Year, This Is Moderna's CEO Explanation

Modern CEO Stephane Bancel. (Wikimedia Commons/Brenda Bancel)

JAKARTA - The chief executive (CEO) of COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer Moderna Inc., Stéphane Bancel, believes the coronavirus pandemic could end within a year, as increased vaccine production ensures global supplies, he told Swiss newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung.

"If you look at the expansion of production capacity across industries over the last six months, sufficient doses should be available by the middle of next year so that everyone on earth can be vaccinated," he told the newspaper in an interview, citing Reuters September 23.

"Booster should also be possible to the extent necessary. Vaccinations will soon be available even for infants."

He further said that those who were not vaccinated would immunize themselves naturally because the Delta variant is highly contagious. This way we will end up in a situation similar to the flu.

"You can be vaccinated and have a good winter. Or you can't do that and risk getting sick and maybe even ending up in the hospital."

Asked if that meant returning to normal in the second half of next year, he said: "From today, within a year, I assume."

Bancel said he expects the government to approve booster injections for people already vaccinated against COVID-19, as at-risk patients vaccinated last fall will no doubt need refreshment.

The booster dose has half the dose of the original dose, which means more of them will be available.

"Vaccine volume is the biggest limiting factor. With half the dose, we will have 3 billion doses available worldwide for the coming year, not just 2 billion," he explained.

The composition of the booster dosage remains the same as the original for this year, as Moderna hasn't had time to change it.

"We are currently testing Delta-optimized variants in clinical trials. They will form the basis for booster vaccinations for 2022. We are also trying Delta plus Beta, the next mutation that scientists believe is possible."

Moderna can use existing production lines for new variants such as for the original COVID-19 vaccine. The price of vaccinations will remain the same, he said.