'Worse than Covid': Threat of pandemics spurs race for vaccines in 100 days

Researchers and governments want to smash vaccine development records, harnessing technologies such as messenger RNA.

Covid-19 has been devastating. A future pandemic could be far worse.
 

If scientists used a scale to classify pandemics like hurricanes, the fatality rate of Covid-19 would probably make it a “category two” out of five, according to Richard Hatchett, a former White House adviser who leads the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

“What’s the worst case?” he asked. “It’s a lot worse than Covid.”

The specter of another global crisis, along with the potential emergence of a deadlier foe, is pushing disease trackers to begin preparations now, even as Covid continues to rage in some regions. Researchers and governments