Next pandemic could be deadlier than covid: British vaccine developer

Ground Report | New Delhi: Next pandemic could be deadlier; One of the experts behind the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19 has warned that the next pandemic could be more contagious and deadly if more resources are not allocated to research and prevention measures.

According to excerpts from a speech she will deliver on Monday, Sarah Gilbert warned that the progress made in the fight against global pathogens "must not be lost" at the cost of fighting the current pandemic.

"This will not be the last time that a virus will threaten our lives and our sources of livelihood," said Gilbert. “The truth is that the next one could be worse. It could be more contagious, or more lethal, or both, " she added. (Next pandemic could be deadlier)

In addition, Gilbert noted that people must remain cautious until more is known about it: “This will not be the last time that a virus threatens our lives and our livelihoods. The truth is, the next one could be worse. It could be more contagious or deadly, or both. "

"We cannot allow ourselves to reach a situation in which, after going through everything we have been through, we find that the enormous economic losses suffered have not led to funds available to prepare for a pandemic," added the specialist and added: "The progress we have made and the knowledge we have gained must not be lost."

Referring to the omicron variant, the professor indicated that mutations in the spike protein are known to increase the transmissibility of the virus. "But there are additional changes that can make antibodies generated by vaccines or by infection with other variants less effective in preventing infection by omicron," she said.

"Until we know more about it, we must be cautious and take steps to stop the spread of this new variant," said the specialist. However, Gilbert pointed out that reducing protection against Covid-19 infection and the mild version of the disease does not necessarily mean that protection against its most severe form and death is reduced.

He also called for the rapid progress observed in the application of vaccines and medicines during the pandemic to become the norm. "There is no reason why a universal flu vaccine cannot be developed to eliminate the threat of influenza," she criticized.

Scientist Sarah Gilbert, who was honored with the title of the lady on Queen Elizabeth II's birthday earlier this year, began designing a coronavirus vaccine in early 2020 after SARS-CoV-2 emerged. for the first time in China.

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