Experts say Covid risk has faded, but boosters still advised for vulnerable groups

Health journalist Helen Branswell reflects on how Covid-19, once the dominant global threat, has receded in public consciousness. Six years after the 2020 lockdowns, mask-wearing and social distancing are largely memories, and the virus no longer dominates headlines.

STAT surveyed a range of infectious-disease experts to gauge current risk assessments. Most said the immediate danger of SARS-CoV-2 has diminished, noting that recent winter illness spikes were driven by influenza rather than Covid.

Nevertheless, the experts cautioned that certain groups-older adults, immunocompromised patients and those with chronic conditions-remain at higher risk. They continue to recommend Covid booster shots for these vulnerable populations.

Overall, the consensus is that Covid has shifted from a pandemic emergency to a manageable endemic disease, but surveillance and targeted vaccination will persist as part of public-health strategy.