Rodney Russell, who was “one of the biggest COVID vaccine cheerleaders out there,” admits to now feeling complacent himself about COVID.

“I believe the vaccines did their job,” said Russell, a professor of virology and immunology at Memorial University of Newfoundland. “The shots got us through the pandemic.”

Still, Russell understands why enthusiasm for updated boosters has waned. “People don’t think they need them anymore,” he said.