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Sir Andrew Pollard, Oxford Vaccine Group Director, has issued a stark warning about the eradication of the Delta variant. On Tuesday, the expert told MPs that the strain could still infect
vaccinated individuals.
Sir Andrew said: "We know very clearly with coronavirus that this current variant, the Delta variant, will still infect people who have been vaccinated and that does mean that anyone who's
still unvaccinated, at some point, will meet the virus.
"I think we are in a situation here with this current variant where herd immunity is not a possibility because it still infects vaccinated individuals."
He also warned there could soon be "a variant which is even better at transmitting in vaccinated populations”.
He explained: “We are in a situation with this current variant where herd immunity is not a possibility because it still infects vaccinated individuals.
“I suspect that what the virus will throw up next is a variant which is perhaps even better at transmitting in vaccinated populations.
“So that’s an even more of a reason not to be making a vaccine program around herd immunity.”
Sir Andrew’s remarks come after the World Health Organisation called for immediate action to avoid the spread of the Delta variant.
The strain first emerged in India and has now spread through 132 countries.
At a recent press conference, the WHO's emergencies director Michael Ryan said: "Delta is a warning.
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“It's a warning that the virus is evolving but it is also a call to action that we need to move now before more dangerous variants emerge."
Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of the WHO emphasised the risks of mutating strains.
He said at a press conference: “The WHO has warned that the Covid-19 virus has been changing since it was first reported, and it continues to change.
"So far, four variants of concern have emerged, and there will be more as long as the virus continues to spread."
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