Vaccine expert weighs in on when Miami Valley could be back to normal

With Gov. Mike DeWine saying the first COVID-19 vaccines should be in Ohio mid-December, a virologist thinks they will reach the Miami Valley after the first of the year.

Dr. Dawn Wooley is a professor at Wright State University. She has been studying viruses her entire career.

“I’m very excited about the prospects of a vaccine,” Dr. Wooley said.

Gov. DeWine said the Pfizer vaccine will come to Ohio first, followed by the Moderna vaccine. He has not come out with an official order for distribution, but Tuesday, he said those who work with Covid patients or care for people in congregate settings will be allowed to get the vaccine first.

Dr. Wooley said it will take months to get the majority of people vaccinated.

“As we start to vaccinate more people, things will gradually open up more and more, every day, every week, every month,” Dr. Wooley said.

Six months from now, the weather should help.

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“We’re seeing spikes in the virus right now because the temperatures are cooler, there’s less humidity, and respiratory viruses in general spread much better under these conditions,” Dr. Wooley said.

A year from now, she hopes things will be back to normal.

“We should by then have the vast majority of people vaccinated. We’re trying to get to the herd immunity, that 70 percent that will really cut down transmission, Dr. Wooley said.

Right now, she said scientists do not know if this will need to be an annual vaccine.

They also do not know exactly what the long term side effects will be, however, Dr. Wooley is optimistic about the vaccines’ safety.

“For some vaccines we follow for 15 years and see if there’s any long term effects. Obviously we cannot do that for this vaccine. The need is too great. But the safety profile is looking excellent for these vaccines in the short term,” Dr. Wooley said.

She explained government funding has allowed the companies to sell the vaccine at a cheaper cost. She said people with insurance can use their insurance to cover the cost. She expects it to be about $20 for people paying out of pocket.

Cox Media Group