The Needle and the Damage Done

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.

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 vac…