A Terrible Covid Christmas Special

Radiolab decided to confront the negativity of 2020 with a Christmas special. The episode starts with a satirical story of Santa negotiating a vaccine deal with the Trump administration. This narrative explores the essential worker concept in a humorous yet thought-provoking manner. The core of the show features the "Twelve Numbers of COVID," presented by producer Sarah Qari. It covers crucial scientific data relevant to navigating the pandemic. Martin Bazant's COVID calculator is referenced as a resource for listeners. The episode was reported by Latif Nasser and Sarah Qari and produced by a team including Matt Kielty and Pat Walters. Several individuals and researchers are thanked for providing expertise and assistance. The Wall Street Journal's reporting on a proposed Santa vaccine deal is acknowledged. Original artwork for the episode was created by Zara Stasi. Listeners are encouraged to support Radiolab through membership.