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Well-known virologist Peter Piot warns that if we don’t find a vaccine against the coronavirus, we will never live “normal” again. “A vaccine is the only real exit strategy,” it says.
Peter Piot has devoted his entire life to fighting viruses, but in mid-March he became infected with the corona virus himself. The 71-year-old virologist had to be hospitalized and given extra oxygen. An admission to intensive care could be avoided. “They got me, I thought. Finally, the viruses I’ve fought all my life can take revenge. I have always had great respect for viruses, and that has not diminished now. (…) Now that I myself have felt the compelling presence of a virus in my body, I look at it differently. It will change my life, I realize, despite the confrontational experiences I’ve had with viruses before. You feel more vulnerable, ”he says in a video interview with Knack.
Permanent damage
The virologist from Leuven emphasizes that the coronavirus, unlike an ordinary flu, can cause permanent damage. “Many people will be left with chronic kidney and heart problems. Even their neurology is disrupted. It will involve hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, possibly more, who will need kidney dialysis treatments for the rest of their lives. The more we learn about the coronavirus, the more questions arise ”, it sounds.
Vaccine necessary
Piot fears that the only real solution against Covid-19 is a vaccine. “We will never be able to live normally again without it. The only real exit strategy from this crisis is a vaccine that can be rolled out worldwide – a huge logistical challenge, ”he concludes.
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