The Delta variant of COVID-19, first identified in India, is becoming the globally dominant variant of the disease, the World Health Organization\u2019s chief scientist \u2026<\/b>
\nThe Delta variant of COVID-19, first identified in India, is becoming the globally dominant variant of the disease, the World Health Organization\u2019s chief scientist said on Friday. Soumya Swaminathan also voiced disappointment in the failure of CureVac\u2019s vaccine candidate in a trial to meet the WHO\u2019s efficacy standard, in particular as highly transmissible variants boost the need for new, effective shots. Britain has reported a steep rise in infections with the Delta variant, while Germany\u2019s top public health official predicted it would rapidly become the dominant variant there despite rising vaccination rates. The Kremlin blamed a surge in COVID-19 cases on reluctance to have vaccinations and \u201cnihilism\u201d after record new infections in Moscow, mostly with the new Delta variant, fanned fears of a third wave. \u201cThe Delta variant is well on its way to becoming the dominant variant globally because of its increased transmissibility,\u201d Swaminathan told a news conference. Coronavirus variants were cited by CureVac when the German company this week reported its vaccine proved only 47% effective at preventing disease, shy of the WHO\u2019s 50% benchmark. The company said it documented at least 13 variants circulating within its study population. Given that similar mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and BioNTech and Moderna posted efficacy rates topping 90%, Swaminathan said the world had been expecting more from CureVac\u2019s candidate. \u201cJust because it\u2019s another mRNA vaccine, we cannot presume all mRNA vaccines are the same, because each one has a slightly different technology,\u201d Swaminathan said, adding the surprise failure underscored the value of robust clinical trials to test new products. WHO officials said Africa remains an area of concern, even though it accounts for only around 5% of new global infections and 2% of deaths. New cases in Namibia, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Rwanda have doubled in the last week, WHO emergencies program head Mike Ryan said, while vaccine access remains miniscule. \u201cIt\u2019s a trajectory that is very, very concerning,\u201d Ryan said. \u201cThe brutal reality is that in an era of multiple variants, with increased transmissibility, we have left vast swathes of the population, the vulnerable population of Africa, unprotected by vaccines.\u201d<\/p>\n