Disappointing news about the effectiveness of some vaccines against the 501.V2 Covid variant now dominant in South Africa should not mask the remarkable progress being made on the vaccine front. The fact that there are already vaccines approved is an incredible feat in itself. There is also a strong likelihood that the scientists will find a way to catch up with the virus as it mutates and that even the current vaccines will help prevent severe Covid and hospitalisations. The fight against the virus is clearly not over, though, and the prospect of requiring regular booster shots to aid that fight is also rising. Photograph: Bloomberg