Because it will have to overcome the strains that are now circulating, the next variety of concern will most likely be more transmissible than Omicron, said Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) technical head on Sunday.
In addition to this, she warned that future variants may also have a greater ability for immune escape, meaning the vaccines will not be as effective against them. “We do not want to be in that situation. So, we want to make sure that we reduce the spread,” she said.