To stop the spread of COVID-19 we need to stay ahead of a rapidly evolving and mutating coronavirus. Transmission from person to person increases the likelihood that the virus will grow into a stronger or more contagious strain, like the Delta variant. The more the virus mutates and evolves, the longer it will take for us, as a global community, to end the COVID-19 pandemic.

Millions of people around the world remain unvaccinated, severely hindering COVID-19 eradication efforts. If a vaccine is available to you, please consider being vaccinated to help reduce the likelihood of new variants emerging. If vaccines are not available in your region, please continue to follow local prevention guidelines for masking and social distancing. Together, we can end the COVID-19 pandemic. To learn more about COVID-19, visit: https://med.stanford.edu/covid19.html

This video was directed and produced by Maya Adam. Animation: Matt Torode. Special thanks to: Lora Ma-Fukuda, Ann Doerr, Russ Haan, Shannon McMahon, Till Bärnighausen, Jennifer Gates and Bonnie Maldonado.