Moderna chief executive sees pandemic over in a year

Moderna Inc chief executive Stefan Bansel thinks the coronavirus pandemic could be over in a year as increased vaccine production ensures global supplies, he told Swiss newspaper Neue Zurcher Zeitung.

"If you look at the industry-wide expansion of production capacity over the past six months, there should be enough doses available by the middle of next year to vaccinate everyone on this earth. Boosters should also be possible to the extent necessary," he said.

"People who don't get vaccinated will naturally immunize themselves because the delta version is so contagious. That's how we end up in a flu-like situation. You can either get vaccinated and get a good cold. Or you don't do that and risk getting sick and possibly ending up in the hospital," the expert added.