What is an ‘endemic’ and how do we get there?

By Patrick Lynn

COVID-19 hospitalizations and positivity rates continue to drop in Wisconsin and around the country, leading to the debate if the COVID-19 pandemic is finally turning into an endemic.

A “pandemic” is defined as an epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents, usually affecting a large number of people, according to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta.

“Within the medical field, we use the term endemic to describe typically some kind of a pathogen that has become a permanent fixture within our life,” said Craig Destree, MD, Aspirus Hospitalist. “Influenza, for example, even though that it’s endemic in the sense that it always is with us, sometimes it gets a mutation that gets it to be particularly lethal.”

Experts believe COVID-19 could ultimately affect us in a similar way.

“This virus is certainly behaving in a way where we think this is something that we’re going to have with us for the indefinite future and it’s just going to be another cold and flu virus we come to live with,” he said.

Currently, though, COVID-19 is still dangerous, and it could be too soon to predict what will happen in the near future.

“If we continue with vaccination efforts and get as much of the population vaccinated as possible, hopefully, we’ll continue to speed up a process that was likely going to occur naturally on its own, but we can do that with having less people die in the process,” Destree said.

Community members can help get us into an endemic stage by continuing to follow public health guidelines and get vaccinated and boosted.

Getting boosted is particularly important while the omicron variant is circulating as immunity against omicron wanes very rapidly and the booster restores protection, especially against severe disease.

“The number one thing that everyone can do is to get vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible,” Destree said.

COVID-19 vaccinations are available through Aspirus Health and numerous pharmacies in the area.  Boosters or initial vaccination series can be scheduled through Aspirus using the MyAspirus online patient portal or mobile app.

Appointments are also available by calling the Aspirus COVID-19 Call Center at 844-568-0701 or 715-843-1454.

The Call Center has been experiencing high call volumes, so community members are encouraged to use MyAspirus for convenience.