The new Omicron variant has also returned focus to vaccine equality - since novel Covid variants are more likely to emerge in low-vaccine regions (Photo: UNICEF Ethiopia)

Omicron shows need for pandemic global pact, WHO says

Health & Society

by Elena Sánchez Nicolás, Brussels,

The emergence of the new and more-contagious Omicron Covid-19 variant reveals "why the world needs a new accord on pandemics," the chief of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday (29 November), calling for a "legally-binding" agreement.

The new global deal, expected by 2024, would provide a framework for global pandemic preparedness, strengthening alert systems, data-sharing and research for vaccines and treatments.

The Omicron variant shows how "perilous and precariou...

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Health & Society

Author Bio

Elena is EUobserver's Managing Editor. She is from Spain and has studied journalism and new media in Spanish and Belgian universities. Previously she worked on European affairs at VoteWatch Europe and the Spanish news agency EFE.

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The new Omicron variant has also returned focus to vaccine equality - since novel Covid variants are more likely to emerge in low-vaccine regions (Photo: UNICEF Ethiopia)