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The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that coronavirus vaccines should not be mandatory except in specific occupational circumstances, stressing that the “benefits” of vaccines need to be better explained rather than mandatory.
The arrival of vaccines is “good news,” World Health Organization Director Mike Ryan told a news conference, noting that experience has shown that when countries tried to make certain vaccines mandatory , they did not have the desired results.
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“I don’t think obligation is the way to go,” Kate O’Brien, director of the WHO Immunization Department, told a news conference. “There may be some countries or situations in countries where professional conditions require it or vaccination is highly recommended,” he added, adding that hospitals could be an example.
Availability of vaccines in priority groups
Information campaigns and the distribution of vaccines to priority groups, such as hospital staff and the elderly, would be more effective, the WHO said, as the global death toll from Covid-19 has reached 1.5 million, according to a report. from Reuters.
“It is much better to present data to people, show them the benefits and let them decide for themselves, within reason,” added Ryan. Even if vaccines have been developed, research must continue, O’Brien said, adding that many vaccines for other diseases have improved over time.
Authorities try to reassure people about safety
Britain is launching its own mass vaccination program this week and other countries are likely to follow soon, and authorities are seeking to reassure people about the safety and efficacy of vaccines to persuade a significant part of the population to do so. vaccinate. as experts believe that conspiracy theories are starting to become a mainstream trend.
For his part, the director general of the agency, Tentos Antanom Gebregjesus, called on countries that plan to “give vaccines in the coming weeks and months” to “give priority to those most in need” because initially the number of vaccines would be limited.
WHO recommends initial vaccination of healthcare workers
Therefore, WHO recommends vaccinating primary care workers who are at high risk of infection and those who are at increased risk of serious illness or death due to their age.
As the number of available doses increases, the WHO also recommends vaccinating people “at higher risk of serious disease due to their medical history and marginalized groups at higher risk,” the agency director said in detail.
To prevent richer countries from buying all the doses of vaccine that will only be available in limited quantities for the first few months, the WHO has established a mechanism called ACT-Accelerator, which should allow for fair distribution of the vaccine and other possible treatments.
We need $ 4.3 billion right now
But for that we need 4.3 billion dollars immediately, according to the WHO, which lamented the lack of money. “Right now there is a very big gap between rhetoric and reality,” said Tentros.
At the same time, Ryan said the WHO is still waiting to start talks with the next US administration of Joe Biden, in a country suffering from a “ruthless” pandemic. Under Trump, the United States, the Organization’s main financier, announced its retirement from the WHO.
Finally, the director general of the WHO, Tentros Antanom Gebregjesus, stressed that the WHO also expects China to study the origin of the new coronavirus. “We plan and hope to be in the field as soon as possible,” he said.
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