A new variant of Covid called Omicron was first spotted in South Africa but is now popping up all over the world.
Governments have reacted aggressively but the World Health Organisation has warned against overreacting and banning flights.
Many developing countries have been quick to blame rich countries for hoarding doses and making it difficult to raise their vaccine levels. For instance, Kenya has vaccinated around 12 percent of the population and South Africa 24 percent compared to levels of over 70 to 80 percent in rich countries. Lower levels of vaccination allow the virus to spread and mutations to multiply.
Certainly the rich world was initially slow to deliver doses to poorer countries. India also unilaterally terminated supply deals to countries like Kenya.
But the problem today is different. Vaccine hesitancy means that million of doses are stockpiled in Kenya, Uganda, South Africa and other countries. People can get vaccinated now but they don't want to for various reasons.
The unvaccinated are endangering themselves, their nations and the whole world. The emergence of Omicron reminds us that everyone needs to get vaccinated as soon as possible and governments should ensure that happens.
Quote of the day: "A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on."
Winston Churchill
The British Prime Minister was born on November 30, 1874