Low vaccination rates have put Eastern Europe at the epicenter of the pandemic, but it isn’t only lack of vaccines keeping the virus going.

(Originally published Oct. 29 in “What in the World“) The pandemic has shifted decidedly to Eastern Europe and the Balkans, and there’s little mystery why, according to a Politico analysis of the trend. Vaccination rates in the former Soviet bloc remain below 60%.

That means the virus is minting new versions of itself behind this new iron curtain, potentially cooking up the new batch that will overcome vaccines altogether. That was a job being performed until recently by the United States, which despite persistently high infection rates is now throwing open its doors to vaccinated foreign visitors, thereby ensuring that the virus can maintain its war against humanity on two hemispheres.

The developed world seems determined to declare the pandemic over despite all the evidence to the contrary. People there seem increasingly blithe about the risks of catching the Delta strain, largely because vaccines are so effective at preventing severe illness requiring hospitalization. They seem to have overlooked the fact that Covid can still cause very painful flu-like symptoms and potentially “long Covid” in those who suffer “breakthrough” infections. The fact remains that the world needs to get vaccinated to stem not only the death rate from Covid, but to reduce the rising rate of transmission. Vaccination clearly isn’t enough; restrictions on gathering and movement, and masks, remain vital until the infection rate subsides.

Scientists are still watching the spread a variant of the Delta strain, AY.4.2, that appears to be even more transmissible than Delta.

Meanwhile, lack of access to vaccines is deepening global inequity, according to the International Labor Organization, which this week added its voice to the global clamor. But a shortage of vaccines isn’t the only thing keeping the developing world from getting vaccinated. It also needs the infrastructure for delivering those doses, right down to the very syringes that will squirt vaccines under people’s skin.