The head of the WHO also expressed concern over the slow rate of immunisation in lower-income nations, which increases the vulnerability of the at-risk population in those areas to future virus epidemics.
Digital Desk: The president
of the World Health Organization said that although the Covid-19 pandemic is
evolving, it is still ongoing since cases are increasing in 110 countries and
are mostly being caused by two quickly proliferating Omicron sub-variants. This
week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the rapidly
proliferating Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5 are thought to be responsible
for half of the coronavirus infections in the country.
As of June 25, BA.5
accounted for 36.6% of all coronavirus cases in the US, BA.4 for 15.7%, and
together they accounted for around 52% of all new cases.
"According to WHO
Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, "COVID-19, driven by BA.4 and
BA.5 in many places, cases are on the rise in 110 countries, causing overall
global cases to increase by 20% and deaths have increased in three of the six
WHO regions even though the global figure remains relatively stable.
The "pandemic is
changing but it's not over," he claimed. Despite our success, the battle
is far from done. The ability to detect the virus is "under threat,"
according to Ghebreyesus "It is becoming more difficult to follow Omicron
and analyse any future emerging variations since reporting and genomic
sequences are diminishing.
The head of the WHO also
expressed concern over the slow rate of immunisation in lower-income nations,
which increases the vulnerability of the at-risk population in those areas to
future virus epidemics.
"We're close to the
halfway point of the year, which is the point at which WHO had called on all
countries to vaccinate at least 70% of their population," he said, adding that
in the previous 18 months, more than 12 billion vaccines had been distributed
worldwide and that 75% of the world's health workers and people over 60 were
now immunised.
The Lancet believes that
vaccinations have prevented 20 million deaths. On the other hand, he added,
"hundreds of millions of individuals, including tens of millions of health
care professionals and elderly individuals in lower-income nations, remain
unvaccinated, making them more susceptible to future waves of the virus."
While the hoarding of
vaccines by wealthy and vaccine-producing nations was the main obstacle to
access last year, Ghebreyesus claimed that in 2022, misinformation difficulties
and an increase in political commitment to vaccine distribution will be
obstacles at the national level. “With only 58 countries hitting the 70 percent
target, some have said it's not possible for low-income countries to make it,”
he said. The WHO Chief used Rwanda as an example, where second dose
immunisation rates are currently at or over 65% and are steadily climbing.
He added that the average
rate in low-income countries is 13%, adding that nations like Nepal and
Cambodia "have demonstrated it's doable." However, he added,
"high vaccination rates are completely doable provided there is enough
political will domestically, backing to enable rollouts to communities, and
disinformation is dealt.
Ghebreyesus emphasised the
need to continue immunising the most vulnerable groups in order to avert deaths
and serious illnesses in the future. He advised that all at-risk populations in
all nations should receive vaccinations and booster shots as soon as feasible.
Ghebreyesus emphasised the
importance of funding for second-generation vaccinations, testing, and
therapies in the area of research and development. "While it makes sense
to adapt vaccinations to the changing viral types, I worry that the rate of
evolution means the world is still playing catch-up. "Creating
second-generation vaccines that stop, or at least lessen infection would be a big
step forward, building on existing vaccines that restrict the severity and
avoid death," he said.
The creation of a "pan-coronavirus" would be the optimum solution, he claimed "vaccine that protects against all current and potential future variations. "This is doable since there has been a lot of research into this virus and understanding immunology in general, and WHO continues to bring scientists and researchers together, “he added.
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