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 The novel coronavirus has killed 5.26 million people across the
world, according to Johns Hopkins University, wiped out trillions of
dollars in economic output and turned life upside down for billions
of people.
"The truth is, the next one could be worse. It could be more
contagious, or more lethal, or both," Sarah Gilbert said in the
Richard Dimbleby Lecture, the BBC reported. "This will not be the
last time a virus threatens our lives and our livelihoods."
Gilbert, a professor of vaccinology at the University of Oxford,
said the world should make sure it is better prepared for the next
virus.
"The advances we have made, and the knowledge we have gained, must
not be lost," she said.
Efforts to end the COVID-19 pandemic have been uneven and
fragmented, marked by limited access to vaccines in low-income
countries while the "healthy and wealthy" in rich countries get
boosters, health experts say.
A panel of health experts set up by the World Health Organisation to
review the handling of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has called for
permanent funding and for greater ability to investigate pandemics
through a new treaty.
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 One proposal was for new
financing of at least $10 billion a year for
pandemic preparedness.
The COVID-19 outbreak was first detected in
China in late 2019. Vaccines were developed
against the virus in record time.
Gilbert said the Omicron variant's spike protein
contained mutations known to increase the
transmissibility of the virus.
"There are additional changes that may mean
antibodies induced by the vaccines, or by
infection with other variants, may be less
effective at preventing infection with Omicron,"
Gilbert said.
"Until we know more, we should be cautious, and
take steps to slow down the spread of this new
variant."
(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge and Stephanie
Nebehay; Editing by Kate Holton)
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