Another Year in the Grip of COVID-19 with Slow Recovery

The document discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the year 2021, highlighting that life is slowly returning to normal with some face-to-face meetings and personal activities restarting. The EADV Congress was a virtual-only event but was successful, suggesting a potential future for hybrid events. The survival through the pandemic is attributed to modern research in virology and immunology and an effective vaccination program. However, there is a psychological opposition to vaccination, with some individuals claiming allergies to vaccine ingredients. The document also mentions a significant increase in manuscript submissions to their journal, with an estimated 5000 new submissions in 2021. The journal has grown in both quantity and quality, with a high rejection rate due to lack of space. The turnaround time for manuscripts is on average 25 days, and the number of downloads has increased from 500,000 per year to 1.5 million in 2020. The document concludes with a hopeful outlook for the future and gratitude for the scientific and collegial exchange that has remained high despite the pandemic.