It was launched as a pretext to justify mail-in ballots and destroy the US (and global) economy.
Even the people behind it wouldn't want it to be too virulent since that could have massive unintended consequences for them.
The vaccine is being pushed so they can say everything is back to normal thanks to the vaccine.
If a majority of people DON'T get the vax or the virus, then people will realize the shutdown was manufactured to steal the election.