Covid, WHO: “Loosen measures too soon disaster for unvaccinated”

“With the increase in global transmission of troubling variants, including the Delta variant of Sars-CoV-2, lifting restrictions too quickly could be disastrous for those who are not vaccinated.” This is the warning launched by the director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, during the usual press point on the situation of Covid-19. “In countries with the greatest access to vaccines, we are witnessing a decline in mortality among older age groups – continued the WHO DG – In these countries, the health and social measures that have helped protect people are being relaxed, but they need to be carefully loosened and adapted, in line with viral circulation and response capabilities. “Many countries, Tedros noted,” do not have this option, because they do not have enough vaccines. In these countries, continued use of targeted public health measures is the best way to suppress transmission. ” For the DG “the greatest barrier to the possibility of ending the pandemic remains the sharing of doses, resources, technology” which is missing. “Globally, we continue to see encouraging signs in the trajectory of the pandemic. The number of new cases Covid-19 reported to WHO has been down for 6 weeks and deaths are down from 5. However, we still see a mixed picture across the globe. ” For example, “the number of deaths reported last week increased in 3 of the 6 WHO Regions: Africa, the Americas and the Western Pacific. We are witnessing more and more of a two-track pandemic – he stressed – many countries still face an extremely difficult situation dangerous, while some of those with the highest vaccination rates are starting to talk about the end of the restrictions. ” POOR COUNTRIES – “Six months after the Covid vaccinations started, high-income countries have administered almost 44% of the doses. Low-income countries only 0.4%. The most frustrating thing about this statistic is that nothing has changed in recent months, “said the WHO director general. “The unequal distribution of vaccines – he warned – has allowed the virus to continue to spread, increasing the possibility that a variant will emerge that makes vaccines less effective”. Inequality in vaccinations, he added, “is a threat to all nations, not just those with the fewest vaccines.” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus appealed: “I ask all manufacturers of” Covid vaccines “to grant the Covax platform “for fair access to vaccination” the right of first refusal on the new volume of vaccines “they will produce,” or to commit to Covax 50% of their volumes “produced this year. “Vaccine sharing is now essential to end the acute phase of Covid-19 – explained the Dg – At the 74th World Health Assembly I asked for a massive global effort to vaccinate at least 10% of the population of all countries by September and at least 30% by the end of the year. To achieve these goals, we need an additional 250 million doses by September, 100 million in June and July alone. ” Tedros also addressed the G7: “This weekend, the leaders of the G7 will meet for their annual summit. These 7 nations have the power to achieve these goals. I ask the G7 not only to commit to sharing doses, but to undertake to share them in June and July “. MRNA VACCINES – “The increase in the production of” Covid vaccines “does not happen overnight, but the sooner you invest, the sooner you can start. At the World Health Assembly, member states adopted a resolution calling on the WHO to further support countries to increase local production. We will do so, we will help identify bottlenecks, provide solutions and develop production acceleration plans “. An example? “Two months ago, WHO also launched an invitation to establish an mRna technology transfer hub, and facilitate greater global production of these vaccines. We have received expressions of interest from some companies and some countries eager to receive technology and create production plants “. It is one of the aspects that the World Health Organization (WHO) is working on, as the director general of the agency explained today. “We are conducting a technical review and will soon start discussions with Member States and partners to start the implementation “of this plan, added the Dg, continuing to” invite companies with mRna technology to share it through the Covid-19 Technology Access Pool: the result can be beneficial both for the owner of the know-how and for public health ” . Tedros highlighted the importance of acting on local production of anti Covid vaccines. “Vaccine sharing is now essential. But it is also clear that in an emergency, low-income countries cannot rely solely on vaccine imports from richer nations.” Investing in local production “is therefore fundamental – he added – for Covid-19 vaccines and for the production of routine vaccinations and other health products. Two months ago, the African Union launched a partnership for the production of African vaccines. ‘and several countries are making progress “in this direction. “I hope that some production sites and at least close to vaccine production will be identified by the end of this year”, concluded the WHO DG.