The WHO criticizes nationwide booster vaccinations – especially in rich countries. That would prolong the corona pandemic instead of ending it.
Kassel – More and more people are taking the booster vaccination in Germany. The aim of the refreshment is to increase the vaccination protection against corona. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), around 29 million people in this country have already received a third injection (as of December 23, 2021).
The World Health Organization (WHO) is critical of the booster vaccinations in rich countries. Instead of containing the global pandemic, the refreshments could even prolong the pandemic.
Corona pandemic: WHO chief criticizes booster vaccinations
“Nationwide refresher programs will likely prolong rather than end the pandemic,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, biologist and WHO director general. If the vaccine doses from the booster campaigns in rich countries had been distributed to health workers and people at risk in poorer countries, 40 percent of the global population could have been vaccinated as early as September, according to the WHO chief.
With a global vaccination rate of 40 percent, the acute phase of the corona pandemic is considered over, according to the assumption of the WHO. According to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, half of all WHO member states have missed this target.
Booster vaccination against corona: WHO criticizes vaccine distribution
The reason for this is the distribution of corona vaccines to countries that already have a high vaccination rate. In Germany, the rate of fully vaccinated people is 70.7 percent (as of December 23, 2021). Meanwhile, the vaccine is still lacking in poorer countries. According to the WHO, the coronavirus can spread and mutate, especially in underserved regions.
In addition to the WHO, the independent vaccination council (SAGE) also spoke out against general booster programs. “Given the ongoing uncertainty about global vaccine supply and equal opportunities, individual country decisions about refresher programs must weigh the public health benefits of their own populations with support for global equality of vaccine access,” said the Vaccine Council.
Corona in Germany: Lauterbach boosts booster vaccination campaign
Meanwhile, Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) continues to boost the booster vaccinations in the fight against the fourth corona wave in Germany. With the new recommendation of the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko), the booster can now be given three months after the basic vaccination. “This STIKO decision is very valuable and correct. It allows a faster campaign of the booster vaccination against Omikron, ”said Lauterbach via Twitter. (cheese)
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