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Experts warn Covid-19 could mutate within a year
Words: Charis ChangProduced By: Angus Mead
A new report warns Covid-19 could mutate within a year if Australia and other countries don’t act quickly to address a crucial problem.
The Shot of Hope report, releasedby a coalition of aid, health, business and civil society groups, makes the case for Australia to commit an extra $250 million to COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) and donate an extra 20 million vaccine doses to the organisation.
The report has highlighted the dangers if the world does not act quickly to ensure all countries are vaccinated by the end of next year.
“The emergence of the Delta variant shows that Australia cannot close its eyes to the impacts of the pandemic in other parts of the world.”
“The emergence of the Delta variant shows that Australia cannot close its eyes to the impacts of the pandemic in other parts of the world.”
- The Shot of Hope Report
Most experts believe it will take less than a year before Covid-19 mutates to the point where the majority of vaccines are no longer effective if authorities don’t act fast enough.
“Speed is of the essence. If we vaccinate the world faster, the likelihood of mutations drops.” 
“Speed is of the essence. If we vaccinate the world faster, the likelihood of mutations drops.” 
- The Shot of Hope Report
The report noted that in more than 19 low-income countries, there were such low vaccination rates, they would not reach their 70 per cent target until after 2030.
“The longer we allow developing countries to lag in terms of vaccination rates, the more time we give the virus to mutate and spread.”
“The longer we allow developing countries to lag in terms of vaccination rates, the more time we give the virus to mutate and spread.”
- Tim Costello, End Covid For All
Australia stands to lose up to $33.7 billion of gross domestic product (GDP) if only half the population in developing countries is vaccinated in 2021, even if all people in advanced economies get the jab.
“The Delta strain, and the havoc it has wreaked across Australia, shows we cannot allow Covid to run rampant and mutate overseas.”
“The Delta strain, and the havoc it has wreaked across Australia, shows we cannot allow Covid to run rampant and mutate overseas.”
- Tim Costello, End Covid For All
"Australia has proudly committed to sharing 60 million vaccines with our neighbours in the Indo-Pacific by the end of 2022, and we have shared over 3.57 million vaccines directly with our region to date.”
"Australia has proudly committed to sharing 60 million vaccines with our neighbours in the Indo-Pacific by the end of 2022, and we have shared over 3.57 million vaccines directly with our region to date.”
- Zed Seselja, Minister for International Development and the Pacific
- Zed Seselja, Minister for International Development and the Pacific
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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/web-stories/free/news-com-au/covid-variants-coronavirus-could-mutate-within-a-year-experts-warn