UN: ‘Concerning news’ vaccines may not work against variants

GENEVA (AP) — The head of the World Health Organization says the emergence of new COVID-19 variants has raised questions about whether or not existing vaccines will work, calling it “concerning news” that vaccines developed so far may be less effective against the variant first detected in South Africa. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a media briefing Monday that South Africa’s decision on Sunday to suspend its vaccination campaign using the AstraZeneca vaccine is “a reminder that we need to do everything we can to reduce circulation of the virus with proven public health measures.”