The year started off on a grim note, but it looks like it will end with some good news: Mass Covid-19 inoculations have started to take off, fuelling hopes that the pandemic can finally be reined in. "I believe this is the weapon that will end the war," said Mr Andrew Cuomo, Governor of New York. For the vast majority of countries, vaccination will be voluntary. Leaders have offered to be among the first to get vaccinated to dispel any doubts about the safety of the vaccines, with US Vice-President Mike Pence and President-elect Joe Biden receiving theirs earlier this month.