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GENEVA: World Health Organization officials on Friday (December 4) warned governments and citizens not to let their guard down in the face of the COVID pandemic now that vaccination is approaching, saying health systems could still sag under Pressure.
Britain approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, raising hopes that the tide will soon turn against a virus that has killed nearly 1.5 million people worldwide, hit the global economy and has changed the normal life of billions.
“Progress in vaccines encourages all of us and now we can begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel. However, WHO is concerned that there is a growing perception that the COVID-19 pandemic is over,” said the Director-General of WHO. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press conference in Geneva.
Tedros said that the pandemic still has a long way to go and that decisions made by citizens and governments will determine its course in the short term and when the pandemic will end.
“We know that it has been a difficult year and that people are tired, but in hospitals that are operating at maximum or above capacity it is the hardest thing that can be,” he said.
“The truth is that today many places are witnessing very high transmission of the COVID-19 virus, which is putting enormous pressure on hospitals, intensive care units and healthcare workers.”
The virus emerged in Wuhan, China, a year ago since it was reported that more than 65 million people are infected with the new coronavirus globally and 1.5 million have died.
Two promising vaccines could soon receive emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and some 20 million Americans could be vaccinated this year, helping stem the tide of the virus in the worst-hit country. of the world.
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However, WHO’s top emergency expert Mike Ryan also warned against complacency following the vaccine launch, saying that while they were an important part of the battle against COVID-19, the vaccines would not end by yes alone with the pandemic.
“Vaccines do not equal zero COVID,” he said.
Ryan said some countries would have to maintain very strong control measures for some time in the future or they would risk a “blowout” in the cases, and a “yo-yo” of the pandemic.
“We are at a crucial moment in some countries. There are health systems in some countries on the brink of collapse,” he said, without referring to specific countries.
DISPLACEMENT OF COVAX
WHO has supported the global COVAX vaccine program that seeks to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines and has seen 189 countries join to date.
The WHO chief scientist said she expected 500 million doses of vaccines to be available for distribution under the COVAX scheme in the first quarter of 2021, with an initial plan to vaccinate 20 percent of the populations most at risk, including health workers and the elderly. over 65 years old.
READ: Singapore will contribute US $ 5 million to COVAX, to help less wealthy countries access COVID-19 vaccines
“The goal is to get at least 2 billion doses by the end of 2021, which will be enough to vaccinate 20 percent of the population in COVAX countries,” Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan told the press conference. .
This would be enough to “end the acute phase of the pandemic” by reducing mortality and the impact on health systems, he said.
COVAX is co-led by the GAVI vaccine alliance, WHO, and the Coalition for Innovations in Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI). The United States has not joined the scheme, having secured bilateral agreements.
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