Prof Dame Sarah Gilbert warns of future pandemic threats while addressing ongoing coronavirus concerns

The coronavirus pandemic, which has already claimed over 5 million lives globally, is far from over, and future pandemics may pose even greater threats, warned Prof Dame Sarah Gilbert, creator of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

In light of the emergence of the Omicron variant, which has spread to more than 30 countries, Gilbert emphasized that while the current pandemic remains a challenge, the possibility of an even more lethal virus in the future is real. She urged global leaders to prepare for the next inevitable pandemic.

The warning comes as concerns grow in the UK about the rapid spread of Omicron, with new travel restrictions being imposed. Despite efforts to contain the spread, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported an additional 86 confirmed cases of Omicron, bringing the total to 246. Experts have cautioned that the government’s latest measures may be insufficient to prevent a potential surge in infections.