Following the COVID-19 delta mutation, there is growing concern among scientists about the emergence of a new, more contagious and deadly mutation, The Hill reports.
Unlike the United States, it is pointed out that the possibility of the virus developing into a mutation is increasing in the situation where there is still sluggish vaccination against COVID-19 in many parts of the world.
Experts predict that unless more people are vaccinated, a new mutation that is even more terrifying than the delta mutation will emerge.
Rochelle Wallensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said public health experts were concerned about the potential for a mutation that would make the vaccine ineffective.
"It's very difficult to predict when such a mutation will occur," said Andrew Pekotz, a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, but said the genetic material is more likely to be altered in areas where the virus can easily spread.
Professor William Schaffner of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center said the emergence of a mutation in which the vaccine now developed would not be effective would pose an enormously serious problem.
Professor Schaffner said, "We need to create a vaccine against a new mutation, but it is not difficult and will be possible in a month or two."
Currently, only 14.2% of the world's population have been vaccinated against COVID-19.