“We’re looking at 2022 at least before enough people start getting the vaccine to build immunity. So for a long time to come, we have to maintain the same kind of measures that are currently being put in place with physical distancing, the masking and respiratory hygiene. Those will have to continue after the vaccine starts getting rolled out, because we need 60% to 70% of the population to have immunity before you will start seeing a dramatic reduction in transmission of this virus. We also don"t know how long these vaccines will protect for – that’s the other big question mark: How long does immunity last? And it"s possible that you will need a booster”, - Swaminathan said.

She added that health officials are currently looking to control the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, rather than eliminate it at this point.