Jeffrey Shaman

Is 2022 the endemic year?

Jeffrey Shaman, Dr. Eric Topol, Allison Nathan

Goldman Sachs Research frames the 2022 transition to endemicity against Omicron's rapid transmissibility and inflation-driven market shifts, while experts Jeffrey Shaman and Eric Topol analyze the variant's biological divergence from previous strains. The discussion highlights that Omicron's upper respiratory focus and robust vaccine-induced immunity have reduced severity, though evolutionary pressure does not guarantee future mildness or a predictable path to stabilization. The dialogue concludes by emphasizing Paxlovid's breakthrough efficacy as a stable treatment option and outlining the remaining hurdles of global vaccine equity and variant unpredictability before the virus can settle into a manageable seasonal pattern.