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A riskier approach to new vaccines will pay off

Investing more money in the next Covid-19 vaccine is not only likely to create scientific spillovers for other vaccines but is also the best way we have of reducing the risk of disaster

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Tim Harford

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At the risk of sounding like a newlywed presenting my spouse with a list of pointers for improvement, these once-miraculous Covid-19 vaccines could do better. It wasn't long ago that I celebrated the anniversary of being fully vaccinated, but that first flush of immunity started to wane very quickly. I've even been flirting with some exciting new variants.
I shouldn't joke. The vaccines were indeed spectacularly effective, as well as being as safe as one could hope. But the virus has adapted so quickly that it is at risk of leaving us behind.
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