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A new coronavirus strain, named Mu, has been designated a variant of interest by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Mu, or B.1.621, was first identified in Colombia and cases have been recorded in South America and Europe.
The WHO’s weekly bulletin on the pandemic said the variant has mutations suggesting it could be more resistant to vaccines, as was the case with Beta, but that more studies would be needed to examine this further.
Elsewhere, the government’s expert advisers on vaccination are resisting intense political pressure to give the go-ahead for Covid jabs for all Britain’s teenagers because of fears it could disrupt the programme of boosters for vulnerable older people, The Independent has learnt.
A person close to the JCVI said there is “a need to consider how to prioritise boosters for vulnerable groups and a campaign for that, along with getting people to have their second doses before trying to launch a schools programme”.
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Matt Mathers1 September 2021 12:50
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My colleague Stuti Mishra has the story:
Matt Mathers1 September 2021 12:35
More on Mu variant
In its weekly bulletin, the WHO said: “Since its first identification in Colombia in January 2021, there have been a few sporadic reports of cases of the Mu variant and some larger outbreaks have been reported from other countries in South America and in Europe.
“Although the global prevalence of the Mu variant among sequenced cases has declined and is currently below 0.1 per cent, the prevalence in Colombia (39 per cent) and Ecuador (13 per cent) has consistently increased.
“The epidemiology of the Mu variant in South America, particularly with the co-circulation of the Delta variant, will be monitored for changes.”
Matt Mathers1 September 2021 12:19
Full report: Covid vaccines for teens ‘being held back out of fear of disrupting boosters for elderly’
My colleagues Andrew Woodcock and Anna Isaac have the full story below:
Matt Mathers1 September 2021 12:13
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s rolling coverage of the Covid pandemic.
We’ll be bringing you updates from the UK and elsewhere throughout the day, as well as any news you might have missed this morning.
Matt Mathers1 September 2021 12:11
