<P> Using an attenuated virus, Dr. Hextall identifies a possible vaccine . To cut out the lengthy testing process, she inoculates herself with the experimental vaccine and visits her father, a doctor suffering with MEV - 1 after he refused to stop treating patients during the outbreak . Hextall does not contract MEV - 1 and the vaccine is declared a success . </P> <P> Even at full production rates, the vaccine supply cannot match demand, so the CDC awards the vaccinations by lottery based on birth date; inoculations will take one full year to complete . First responders, doctors, and others designated by the government are vaccinated ahead of the lottery . Dr. Cheever gives his fast - tracked vaccination to the son of Roger, a CDC janitor who had overheard Dr. Cheever's phone call warning his girlfriend to leave Chicago . Meanwhile, Mitch and Jory reconcile with the hope of life going back to normal . </P> <P> In the opening days, Dr. Leonora Orantes, a WHO epidemiologist, traveled to Hong Kong to follow the Beth Emhoff lead . She collaborates with Sun Feng and other local epidemiologists and public health officials; they identify Emhoff as patient zero, with security video showing her as the common contact with the next three known victims at a Macau casino . Before she can leave, Feng kidnaps Orantes to use her as leverage to obtain (anticipated) MEV - 1 vaccine doses for his village . Orantes spends months living with the villagers until the vaccine is announced . Feng exchanges Orantes for enough vaccine for his village . When her colleague reveals that similar kidnappings were widespread, and the doses were placebos, Orantes rushes back to warn the villagers, exhibiting Stockholm Syndrome . </P> <P> By Day 26, the death toll had reached at least 2.5 million in the U.S. and 26 million worldwide . The discovery, production and initial deliveries of vaccine took until Day 133, with vaccinations to run until nearly Day 500 . The final death toll is not mentioned . </P>

Who was the first person infected in contagion