Will COVID-19 eventually become like the seasonal flu?

“Scientists do not yet know if COVID-19 outbreaks will occur every year and if we will need to get vaccinated every year,” Sutton said. “Currently, however, the available COVID-19 vaccines are effective against all of the variants.”  In addition to researching vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2, scientists are also working on a pan-coronavirus vaccine to protect against all coronaviruses. Ultimately, as SARS-CoV-2 establishes itself in the global population and more and more people become protected through vaccination, the virus may one day be less dangerous than it is today. You can do your part by getting the first vaccine that’s available to you and continuing to follow masking and distancing guidance. The latest COVID-19 vaccination information for the Penn State community is available on the University’s coronavirus information website. 

Like influenza, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is constantly mutating. Yet, the two viruses are very different. Influenza mutates rapidly, which is why vaccines need to be updated almost every year and why you need to get vaccinated every fall. In contrast, research suggests that SARS-CoV-2 mutates more slowly.

So, what does this mean?

As part of the “COVID-19 Vaccines: Asked & Answered” video series, Troy Sutton, assistant professor of veterinary and biomedical sciences, explains that because variants continue to emerge, we anticipate that SARS-CoV-2 will continue to circulate in humans for several years, causing regular outbreaks. 

 

Last Updated October 27, 2021