Experts' warning over new virus variants

Allowing poorer countries to remain unvaccinated is a "reckless approach to public health", leading scientists have warned the Government.

A letter signed by more than300experts–including13 members of the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) – says that vaccinatingmostoftheworld's population is "the best way" to prevent coronavirus mutations.

It says vaccines will "not be effective" at stopping new variants unless the UK ensures more people in poorer countries are jabbed.

The letter reads: "Allowing huge numbers of people in low-andmiddle-incomecountriestoremainunvaccinatedis a reckless approach to public health that creates conditions where new SARS-CoV-2 variantsofconcernaremorelikely to develop. The Omicron variant was first identified in Botswana

and South Africa, on a continent in which fewer than one in ten are fully vaccinated.

"Thanks to remarkable scientific innovations, we have a number of vaccines that remain highly effective against all known Covid-19 variants.

"Yet, unless we share this technology with the world andincreaseglobalvaccination coverage, vaccines will not be effective at stopping new variants of concern.

A Government spokesperson said: "The UK is working to ensure that developing countries can get access to Covid-19 vaccines.

"Our significant early commitment has already helped to deliver more than one billion doses to developing countries, while we continue to donate our own domestic surplus.

"Weareworkingontackling the underlying issues including manufacturing and supply constraints, and vaccine confidence.”