Expert says diligence, vaccine uptake needed to ensure elimination of COVID-19

A germ expert says we're in the final stages of the pandemic, but while many people are feeling confident about their first doses of COVID-19 vaccines, due diligence is now more important than ever.

As more people go for their second dose, what governments and health officials need to work toward is essentially elimination of the virus, spare the occasional outbreak, Jason Tetro, a microbiologist and author of The Germ Files, told Saskatchewan Weekend host Shauna Powers.

"That may still end up happening even with elimination status, but it means for the most part, lockdowns, restrictions, all of that, are going to go away and we are going to be able to get back to living our lives as normal," said Tetro.

Vaccine rates in Saskatchewan continue to climb. Information released over the weekend indicates 77 per cent of those 40 and older have gotten their first dose, alongside 71 per cent of those 30 and older and 65 per cent of those over 18.

Saskatchewan's reopening plan is based on vaccination rates and Tetro says the government has to ensure that those who may be hesitant have the information and encouragement they need to roll up their sleeves.

Tetro pointed to some of the offerings elsewhere in the world in the form of utility credits or free lottery tickets that governments and health authorities are providing to get people in line. "It's called the doughnut principle," he said.

"It's a process that's officially known as social nudging and what it does is it gets people to think about doing something because of the reward," he said. "While it may sound like bribing, there's about five to ten per cent of the population that will be bribed."

Tetro says while it's possible there may be some resurgences and people still vulnerable to the virus due to the fact they did not get vaccinated, there are numerous ways to keep the presence of the virus low.

"Does that mean that we have to label people who haven't been vaccinated? Does it mean that we have to point a finger at them or simply say you can't travel? I don't think so," he said. "We're going to have rapid testing, we're going to have so many options to be able to make sure that we keep this virus at an elimination level."

He stressed that while people may be feeling more comfortable as vaccine levels continue to rise, he encourages people to continue with best practices — like those around face coverings — to prevent the spread of things like the common cold and flu, pointing to low flu levels throughout COVID-19 pandemic.

He says people should wear "a mask with pride" and to protect themselves against COVID-19 variants and other threats, noting vaccines and diligence are both needed. 

"That's really the way we get to the end," he said.