The Omicron variant has taken many people by surprise but the severity of vaccine inequity shows that this mutation was a long time coming.

Although many wealthy nations are well on their way to achieving their vaccination targets, a worrying number of poorer countries are still struggling to reach five percent.

But how do the vaccine rates overseas impact us in Australia? And what has it got to do with the new Omicron mutation?

Doctor Deborah Gleeson, an associate professor in public health at La Trobe University, spoke to the Wire’s Ayla Liebenberg to answer these questions.

Produced By: Ayla Liebenberg

Featured In Story: Doctor Deborah Gleeson, an associate professor in public health at La Trobe University

First aired on The Wire, Wednesday 1 December 2021