"I have no doubts: we will do it. And we will do it thanks to a combination of safe and effective vaccines and adequate health policies."
Thus immunologist Anthony Fauci, head of the US task force against Covid-19 in an interview with Repubblica in which he points out that the time it will take "depends on a series of factors. First of all, the vaccine and its effectiveness : we will have it quickly and it will be distributed in the course of 2021. So: if people continue to behave appropriately and are vaccinated, within a year we will start to be out of it. Maybe not all over the world: this will not happen before four years ".
For Christmas 2021?
"I hope so. There is no guarantee. But there are many vaccines being tested all over the world. Eventually, one that is safe and effective will be there. So, yes: I hope that by Christmas 2021 we can return to some form of normalcy ".
"I don't think" we will be completely covered by the virus once we get vaccinated: "There are many vaccines that protect 95-97%, like measles which is one of the most effective. But I doubt we will ever be able to develop such an effective vaccine. against Covid-19. I hope so, but I would be satisfied if we had a vaccine that was 70-75% effective or so. It will not protect everyone, but it will protect the majority. And so the virus will not have the opportunity to spread. ".
The things to do while waiting are: "Wear masks, everyone. Keep a safety distance of 180cm or more. Avoid crowds of any kind. Try to do things outdoors. And wash your hands as often as possible. ".