WHO experts warned that the continuous use of vaccines originally developed for COVID-19 as supplementary agents is not a feasible way to fight against new mutated virus strains, calling for the development of new vaccines to prevent the spread of the epidemic more effectively. (Reuters)

(We Chinese in America Media Editor Tang Zhao, January 12, 2022)A panel of experts formed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to evaluate the efficacy of the new coronavirus vaccine said that using existing vaccines as boosters to fight the new mutant virus strains is not the best way to fight the spread of the epidemic, according to Agence France-Presse reported by the Central News Agency.The WHO's Technical Advisory Group on Covid-19 Vaccine Composition (TAG-Co-VAC) said in a statement: "Based on repeated administration of booster shots, it may be necessary to upgrade existing vaccines to target rapidly-spreading mutated strains of COVID-19, such as Omicron, that have so far emerged in 149 countries.

The group is also calling for new vaccines to be developed, as that would not only save those diagnosed from becoming seriously ill, but also prevent them from contracting the disease in the first place.