High & upper middle countries received 83% vaccines: WHO

The World Health Organisation recently announced that the high and upper middle-income countries have received 83% of world vaccines. These countries represent 53% of world population.

On the other hand, the low and middle income countries have received only 17% of the word vaccines and they account to 47% of world population.

Variant of Concern

Along with the above announcement, the World Health Organisation has also said that the COVID variant B.1.617, the double mutant Corona Virus variant is being classified as “Variant of Concern” at a Global level. This is the fourth variant to be designated as “Variant of Global Concern”. The other three were the UK variant or the Kent variant (B.1.1.7), Brazil variant (P.1) and the South Africa variant (B.1.351)

Recently, the UK scientists declared the COVID-19 strains found in India as “Variant of Concern”.

COVID-19 mutations

The viruses make copies of themselves to survive and spread. They tend to change while making copies. These changes are insignificant. Some may even harm virus. However, there are certain changes that may increase the infectivity of the diseases.

The more a virus spreads, the more are its chances to mutate. Some mutations lead to new variants.

What is so bad about mutants declared as “Variant of Concern”?

All the four mutants of COVID-19 that were declared as “Variant of Concern” by the World Health Organisation have undergone changes in their spike protein. That is, they have undergone changes in that part that attaches to human cells. This increases their infection. Also, it means that they can spread more rapidly paving way for more mutants to arise.

Month: Current Affairs - May, 2021