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Nobel laureate Peter Doherty is predicting politicians will be reluctant to reopen Australia next year even as vaccination rates surge and people stop dying of Covid.
The immunologist, 80, renowned for discovering the role of T cells in the immune system, said Australians living through lockdowns were conditioned to the zero Covid strategy.
'We will get back to a more normal life next year I expect, but it is going to be difficult politically for the politicians to open up because there will be disease circulating and we are so accustomed to the idea that no virus should circulate,' Professor Doherty told the ABC's 7.30 program.
Nobel laureate Peter Doherty is predicting politicians will be reluctant to reopen Australia next year even as vaccination rates surge and people stop dying of Covid or getting sick
The former Australian of the Year suggested never-ending lockdowns, once Australia had high vaccination rates that prevented death and serious illness, would be an overreaction.
'We don't shut down the country because of flu,' he said.
Professor Doherty made the observations as New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian prepared to announce Sydney's lockdowns, which began on June 26, would be extended for at least another four weeks.
He is backing the existing lockdown strategy, with just 16.7
