The coronavirus is constantly mutating and changing. Most of these mutations have no effect, but when random chance happens to tweak important parts of the virus – like its spike protein – new variants emerge. The concern is that these differences will make existing vaccines less effective. It’s still not clear if this is the case with the latest variant Omicron. But if it is, current vaccines may need to be updated. Deborah Fuller explains what that process would look like.

Kenyans who haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19 can expect to be banned from access to a range of public spaces from December 21. In a country that has struggled for months to secure adequate and freely available vaccine doses, the mandate is premature, writes Catherine Kyobutungi. Mandates should be considered only when all the geographical, financial and cultural access issues have been addressed.