As I have worked with autoimmune diseases and Autism for many years, I’ve had the pleasure to study how different kinds of viruses affect our immune system and neurology. In the beginning – as a novice in his field – it was scary to learn how much viruses we all carry in our body. This virome – like bacteria – are permanent residents. For instance, the human gut virome includes a diverse collection of viruses that infect our own cells and impact our well-being. Despite its predominance, the virome remains one of the least understood components of the gut microbiota. Most of our permanent resident viruses are not dangerous and scientists are finding out that many exist in a ‘healthy’ symbiosis with bacteria and normal cells. The problem comes when there is a ‘dangerous’ combination. This combination (combo) can be extremely complex and some viruses become dangerous only in rare circumstances.
Vaccination?
With SARS-cov-2, I believe that we will discover in the coming year that for many who now show no adverse symptoms despite being carriers, the immune system will not react strongly enough and consequently the virus becomes a permanent non-dangerous inhabitant for the carrier. Only in adverse future circumstances can it become dangerous for the carrier. We cannot yet establish that probability. I also believe that health authorities would like to vaccinate all these people in order to prevent them from infecting others. This vaccination would in reality initiate the persons immune response and possibly, in some cases, autoimmune reactions of which cytokine storms can lead to death (I wrote about it in an earlier blog). Vaccination makes sense on a societal level but personally, I would not take such a vaccination since I feel there would be a reasonable chance of severe adverse health effects for myself. We as a society cannot demand that people take such risks for the sake of other people or the economy.
If no herd immunity and many becoming SARS-cov-2 carriers: What then?
The results of this is that not only are we now facing extraordinary consequences for our way of life and for society, but I am sorry to say that I believe that SARS-cov-2 will change things also in the long run, even maybe decades ahead. We will have a group of humanity who permanently carry SARS-cov-2 – and they potentially can infect a person not having the virus or someone who has lost immunity to it.
People will become more scared of each other. ‘Keeping distance’ becomes the norm. No more kissing on cheeks unless you are family or close friend. This can become an ‘everyman’s’ Aids-scare but on a totally different scale. Unfortunately, this would result in growing nationalism, regionalization and increased protectionism both on national and local levels.
I hope I am wrong.