Zhang Wenhong, director of Huashan Hospital's Department of Infectious Disease in Shanghai, posted a long article on social media on Saturday to share his outlook on combating COVID-19 for the upcoming year.

Photo: Weibo

In the article, he notes that the development of COVID-19 vaccines was beyond his expectations, because the whole process from research to market took only one year.

The coronavirus has become so common that there is no way to fight against it except for vaccines, according to Zhang.

No significant progress has been made in targeted drugs, but Zhang believes that within five years, humans will develop a definitive targeted antiviral drug.

More viral mutations are likely to arise, but in China and internationally, vaccine production lines are currently seen as adequate to deal with these mutations, Zhang stresses.

He proposes that China should strengthen its public health system and promote global collaboration to ensure everyone gets a COVID-19 vaccination.

(Compiled by Xiong Xinyi)