Commentary: The World Looks Different In the Second Year of the Pandemic...

Life, as we understand it, is complicated. One organism depends upon another. Bees need pollen. Plants must be pollinated to produce their fruit. Bacteria, in our gut, need to stay healthy with diets appropriate to our health. Moreover, bodies employ internal viruses and bacteria to maintain good health. Life on earth is closely inter-related. 

However, viruses and bacteria have reputations as harmful to the lives of people, animals, and many living organisms. Viruses are known to make most people sick with colds. While the COVID-19 virus looks similar to the cold or the flu virus, at times the symptoms of the new virus can be deadly. At times, some of us appear indifferent or deny our culpability in the spread of the pandemic by not wearing a mask or refusing to be vaccinated. In many ways, this twisted nightmare where so many fail to believe or to trust science may become our ‘swan song.’ Earlier in the 20th century, technology and science enabled so many to leave behind the shackles of doubt and economic slavery. While an education and knowledge was once praised, presently young college students throw “Covid parties” where some eventually lose their lives. Sadly, some preach as if it is the End of the World. [It has become sadly ironic.]

I don’t readily believe that pronouncement— the end maybe ‘nigh for some, but we need perspective and discernment. If anything, it is selfish and immature to pronounce any judgment where not enough knowledge is presented beforehand. We experience mounting deaths, and far too many individuals have expressed indifference to the mounting losses. At the time of this writing, a full 25 percent of the US population wish to decline taking part in the vaccination process. Another 25 percent are unsure whether they want the vaccination. Thus, a potential issue exists for the majority of the population who received vaccinations. The concept of ‘herd immunity,’ where enough individuals are immune to render the full population immune may be elusive. 

[If the pandemic lasts another two years, the world as we knew it may not ever return. The standing of the US as the #1 power may be lost to the present generation. The world political map, as we knew it, may resemble one with communist economics and dictators (who aren’t Pro-Democracy) ruling over the vast majority of the world. That is a cynical view, but it is possible.] 

What are we left with? 

I perused the mounting responses to the pandemic from different pharmaceutical companies— within the next six months, we may be hearing of a half of a dozen new responses to the pandemic. See my list below: 

The link to the publication is found here:   https://accesstomedicinefoundation.org/access-to-medicine-index/results/how-are-companies-responding-to-covid-19-and-are-they-prepared-for-the-next-potential-pandemic

Follow it and you will be led to the appropriate page after selecting the appropriate choice for the publication, itself.

The following corporations (with their COVID-19 Drug pipeline numbers) have revealed the development of pipeline COVID drugs.

AbbVie— 2 pipeline COVID-19 drugs

AstraZeneca— 3 pipeline COVID-19 drugs

Bayer— 1 pipeline COVID-19 drug

Bristol Myers Squibb— 1 pipeline COVID-19 drug

Daiichi Sankyo— 1 pipeline COVID-19 drug

Eisai— 3 pipeline COVID-19 drugs

Eli Lilly— 3 pipeline COVID-19 drugs

Gilead—  1 pipeline COVID-19 drug

GlaxoSmithKline—16 pipeline COVID-19 drugs

Johnson and Johnson— 3 pipeline COVID-19 drugs

Merck— 8 pipeline COVID-19 drugs 

Merck Sharpe and Dohme— 2 pipeline COVID-19 drugs

Novartis— 5 pipeline COVID-19 drugs

Pfizer— 2 pipeline COVID-19 drugs

Roche— 1 pipeline COVID-19 drug

Sanofi— 4 pipeline COVID-19 drugs

Takeda— 5 pipeline COVID-19 drugs

In the annals of history, this is unprecedented. We, as a world community, are cooperating with one another. 

At the end of the pandemic, I would hope and pray we don’t rush to judging those whom we disagreed with as to the end of life on the pale blue dot we call Earth. It is immaterial to me, at least. My view- those who wished no suffering nor death will continue to do so.