The World health organization on Wednesday called for a suspension on COVID-19 vaccine booster shots until at least the end of September to address the severe inequity in dose distribution between rich and poor nations.
WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus beckoned on the countries and companies controlling the supply of doses to ensure that less wealthy states also receive vaccination
“I understand the concern of all governments to protect their people from the Delta variant. But we cannot accept countries that have already used most of the global supply of vaccines using even more of it, while the world’s most vulnerable people remain unprotected,” Tedros stated in a press conference.
“We need an urgent reversal, from the majority of vaccines going to high-income countries, to the majority going to low-income countries.”
According to an AFP count, more than 4.25 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines have now been administered globally,
In countries categorised as high income by the World Bank, 101 doses per 100 people have been injected – with the 100 doses mark having been surpassed this week.
That figure drops to 1.7 doses per 100 people in the 29 lowest-income countries.
“Accordingly, WHO is calling for a moratorium on boosters until at least the end of September, to enable at least 10 per cent of the population of every country to be vaccinated,” said Tedros.
“To make that happen, we need everyone’s cooperation, especially the handful of countries and companies that control the global supply of vaccines.”
“It’s no understatement to say that the course of the COVID-19 pandemic depends on the leadership of the G20,” he added.
(AFP)