The World Health Organization recognized that inequity in health services and in access to vaccines once morest covid-19 was humanity’s biggest mistake last year 2021.
The director of that entity, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, pointed out that inequality in immunization processes wipes out people, jobs and undermines the global economic recovery.
“While there are countries to administer a fourth dose of vaccines, others have not even covered their health personnel or population at risk. It is not the way to end the pandemic. No one will be safe until we all are, “he said during the virtual press conference.
He indicated that at the current rate of vaccination, 109 countries will not be able to fully immunize 70 percent of their population at the beginning of July 2022, reported the Prensa Latina agency.
He stressed that the appearance of all the variants considered of concern such as Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma and Ómicron reflects that, partly due to the low vaccination rates, the perfect environment has been created for the appearance of each one of them.
“Last week, the largest number of covid-19 cases was reported so far and we must bear in mind that they are below the real ones since the reported figures do not reflect the sum of tests during the holidays, the positive home tests not registered and overloaded surveillance systems that do not detect cases around the world, “he said.
Regarding the effects of the Omicron variant, he stated that it should in no way be classified as “mild.”
“I am very concerned that Ómicron is more transmissible and circulating at the same time as Delta, it is causing a tsunami of cases. Like the previous variants, it is hospitalizing people and causing deaths, “he said.
He explained that the “tsunami” of cases is so large and rapid that it is overwhelming health systems and hospitals are becoming overcrowded and understaffed, leading to more deaths, which may be preventable.
He also said that first-generation vaccines may not stop all infections and transmission, but they are still very effective in reducing hospitalizations and deaths from this SARS-CoV-2 virus.
“We need equity in the acquisition of vaccines, in the treatments, the application of the tests. Equity, equity and nothing but equity ”, he concluded.
