Poor Nations Becoming Potential Breeding Grounds For Variants

Rich Countries Are Buying Up Vax, Leaving Poor Regions Vulnerable

As new variants like the one discovered in South Africa migrate to more countries — including the US — it is becoming ever clearer that the tragedy for poorer countries could become a tragedy for every country. The more the virus spreads, and the longer it takes to vaccinate people, the greater chance it has to continue to mutate in ways that put the whole world at risk.

Recent studies suggest that at least four vaccines that are effective at preventing infection with the original virus did not perform as well against the variant found in South Africa. That variant is also more infectious — as the one discovered in Britain — and it is now estimated to make up 90% of all cases in South Africa, according to data compiled by researchers. It has turned up in dozens of other countries.