WHO head explains emergence of new strains of COVID-19 by inequality in distribution of vaccines

"We will not be able to overcome this crisis if we cannot solve the problem of vaccination ..." - quoted by RIA Novosti Gebreyesus.

"If inequities in vaccine distribution persist, this virus will continue to evolve in unpredictable ways," he said.

The WHO Director General stressed that over 80% of the vaccines produced were provided to the G20 countries, while the African countries received only 0.6% of all vaccines.

Earlier, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that a "shocking imbalance" remains in the global distribution of coronavirus vaccines.

UN Secretary General António Guterres said that the world needs an international coronavirus vaccination plan so that at least 70% of the population would be vaccinated on Earth in the first half of 2022.

On November 25, it became known that scientists have identified a new strain of coronavirus in Botswana, South Africa and Hong Kong, which could potentially become the most dangerous.

Later it was designated by the Greek letter "omicron".