I used to believe this, until one of our political parties officially adopted the position that the 2020 election was stolen from them, and states like Florida and Alaska put vaccine and mask skeptics in charge of their health programs.

The people who believe this nonsense still aren't a majority, but they are now a large enough constituency to affect actual public policy. They are enabled by another large group who choose to ignore the insanity because it is politically convenient for them. I find all of this beyond terrifying. I stand by my statement: Smallpox could never be eradicated in 2021.