The future of the COVID-19 vaccine Will history repeat itself? Mass vaccinations historically take years to build true herd immunity within society: What does this mean for the future of the COVID vaccine? and last updated 2021-02-11 23:16:15-05 GREEN BAY (NBC26) â Although more people are starting to get the COVID-19 vaccine, history shows it could be years before coronavirus cases no longer originate in the United States. The World Health Organization has declared only one disease affecting humans as officially eradicated: Small pox. Others, like polio and the measles, are now controlled partially with vaccines. It's a tool health officials said they hope will do the same for the coronavirus.