Resident Evil’s Lesson on Vaccines
What do all Resident Evil games have in common besides zombies? Well, vaccines, of course.
A huge lesson we can take from Resident Evil games is the heroic lengths iconic protagonists like Leon S. Kennedy go to, creating and finding vaccines to save themselves and others from further zombie-apocalyptic destruction.
While it’s fictional, Resident Evil’s approach to vaccines curing infection and zombie viruses highlights the real importance of vaccines today, which protect not only ourselves but also our communities by preventing the spread of deadly sicknesses.
Everyone admires Leon S. Kennedy from Resident Evil 4 and 2, from his charming looks and cheesy lines to his amazing backflips and his drive to help others from evil. One may ask how he can exhibit these qualities besides intense training with the CIA? The answer is vaccines.
In the recent release of Resident Evil 9, Leon faces a bigger problem than his long-time enemy, Mr. X, but he is feeling weak as the T-virus, which he was exposed to in 1998 in Raccoon City, courses through his veins. Even though he was not injected with the zombie T-virus, his exposure led to coughing up blood and passing out, showing how vaccines could have helped him years before.
Throughout the game, he searches for information about the mysterious deaths of survivors of Raccoon City, which leads him to the name Elpis. Although it was perceived as the name of a new virus, it was actually an anti-viral to cure the G-virus, as the name translated to ‘Hope’. With Leon injecting the vaccine, the black veins on his neck and hands immediately disappeared, allowing him to beat the final boss of the game and bring vaccines to his colleagues who were also infected. In our reality today, hope lies in our vaccines, which can also prevent deaths.
All types of vaccines are crucial for humans to take, but let’s travel back to COVID-19. Since the COVID-19 vaccine became available to the public, over 107 million doses have been administered. However, the booster uptake rate has significantly decreased over the years, with only about 18% of adults from 2025-2026 seeking out the booster.
There are even adults who still have not received the COVID vaccine because they believe in natural immunity. But natural immunity is not enough, even for the most badass character in video game history. With new COVID variants, including BA.3.2, our vaccines are less effective, but they remain crucial for reducing severe symptoms such as trouble breathing, brain fog, and pale skin. Being exposed to COVID through natural immunity can lead to long-term effects, including loss of taste, chronic coughs, and heart palpitations, highlighting the importance of vaccination for protection.
You wouldn’t wish death on your favorite and beloved Resident Evil character, so why would you risk your own life?