Stating that the death toll from COVID-19 has been rising in the past five weeks, World Health Organization (WHO) chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday called for developing new vaccines to prevent the infection.
In opening remarks at the COVID-19 media briefing, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “Although the COVID-19 pandemic is not over, we are now in a very different position from where we were a year ago, and we have learned many Important lesson.”
“One of the most important is to vaccinate the right groups first, the most effective way to save lives, protect health systems, and reopen societies and economies,” he said.
He said that even in some countries, which have reached 70% vaccination coverage, if large numbers of health workers, older people and other at-risk groups are not vaccinated, deaths will continue, the health system will remain under pressure and the global will improve. risk.
“It’s not theoretical, it’s real.”
“Covid-19 deaths have been increasing for the past five weeks, and many countries are reporting trends in hospitalizations following waves of transmission driven by the Omicron subvariant,” the WHO chief said.
The WHO chief also urged all countries to strive for the target of 70% vaccination coverage.
“While vaccines have saved countless lives, they have not significantly reduced transmission. It is therefore important for governments and the private sector to continue to collaborate and invest in the development of new vaccines that prevent both infection and disease. ,” he added, “we also need vaccines that can be more easily distributed, such as via nasal spray or drops.”
The WHO chief urged all countries to assess and strengthen their preparedness and response plans for future waves of transmission, including surveillance, testing, strong clinical management and a well-equipped health workforce.
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