NEWS UPDATE November 2020 has seen a flurry of press releases announcing effective, and apparently relatively safe, vaccines against covid-19. However, as no detailed results have been released, it is impossible to assess the quality and relevance of these claims. When we finally have more than headlines to go on, what questions will need to be asked about these clinical trials? The answers will help determine the usefulness of these vaccines and define the vaccination strategy, taking account of the interests of vaccinees and society as a whole.