Siouxsie Wiles explains the Omicron variant of Covid-19

Dr Siouxsie Wiles, Microbiologist and Associate Professor at the University of Auckland, discusses with The Spinoff all there is to know about the new Covid-19 variant detected in South Africa, which is causing concern. The Delta variant has two mutations in its receptor binding domain that help make it more transmissible. The Omicron variant has 10. Worse, South Africa has had to start their own mRNA vaccine research and development programme because Pfizer and Moderna won’t increase production to meet the global need or share their technology so others can meet it instead.