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The Covid-19 pandemic has officially infected more than 80 million people and killed at least 1.7 million worldwide, and the daily death toll remains high in the US and others. important nations.
But even in the face of such staggering numbers, experts from the World Health Organization warn that the “next pandemic may be more serious” if the international community does not learn from the current coronavirus crisis and prepare accordingly.
“This pandemic has been very serious … it has affected every corner of this planet. But this is not necessarily the largest,” Dr. Mike Ryan, head of the WHO Emergency Program, told reporters during an end-of-the-year information session. Monday. “This is a wake-up call. We are now learning how to do things better: science, logistics, training and governance, how to communicate better. But the planet is fragile.”
“We live in an increasingly complex global society,” added Ryan. “These threats will continue. If there is one thing we must take out of this pandemic, with all the tragedy and the loss, it is that we must act together. We need to honor those we have lost by getting better at what we do every day.”
Ryan’s comments came as nations around the world continued to deploy and administer Covid-19 vaccines in massive inoculation campaigns that have sparked fears of “vaccine apartheid” as wealthy countries absorb much of the existing supply of dose. According to an analysis published earlier this month by the People’s Vaccine Alliance (PVA), 90% of populations in nearly 70 poor countries are likely not to be vaccinated by 2021 due to “hoarding” of vaccines by rich countries .
During Monday’s briefing, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the development of safe and effective vaccines an “incredible scientific achievement,” but added that the United Nations agency “will not rest until those in need everywhere have access to the new vaccines and are protected. “
Even as effective vaccines begin to be used, Professor David Heymann, chairman of the WHO strategic and technical advisory group for infectious hazards, warned on Monday that Covid-19 could “become endemic” and “continue to mutate as it reproduces. in human cells, especially in areas of more intense admission “.
At least one new variant of Covid-19 that appears to be more transmittable, but not necessarily more deadly“It was recently detected in the UK and has since been found in more than a dozen other nations. Experts say that existing vaccines should be effective against the new variant.
While the variant has not been officially detected in the United States, Undersecretary of Health and Human Services Brett Giroir said Monday that the strain is “likely” present in the country, which has the highest number of deaths from Covid. -19 in the world.
Heymann predicted that “the likely scenario is that the virus becomes another endemic virus that will remain a threat, but a very low-level threat in the context of an effective global vaccination program.”
“Fortunately,” Heymann added, “we have life-saving tools and these, in combination with good public health, will allow us to learn to live with Covid-19.”
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