The smallpox vaccine took decades to bear fruit
Vaccination campaigns are hard
AS NEW VARIANTS of SARS-CoV-2 take off, it seems increasingly likely that vaccination is the only way the pandemic will be brought under control. In theory, the high efficacy shown in clinical trials should be sufficient to stop the virus cold. Yet only a few vaccines have ever brought epidemics to an abrupt halt. Even in modern times, many campaigns have fallen short of the impact covid-19 jabs will need to have for pre-pandemic lifestyles to resume.
This article appeared in the Graphic detail section of the print edition under the headline “Gift of the jab”
Graphic detail January 23rd 2021
From the January 23rd 2021 edition
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