No variant of the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 has spread as rapidly as Omicron, according to the World Health Organization, which estimates that the strain is now present in all countries.[/b]
WHO secretary general, Tedros Adanom Gebrejesus, noted that so far Omicron cases have been detected in 77 countries. "But the reality is that Omicron is probably in most countries, even if it has not yet been detected. Omicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen before in any other variant" of SARS-CoV-2, he explained.
"We are concerned by the fact that people consider Omicron mild (...) Even if Omicron causes less severe disease, the number of cases could once again overwhelm those health systems that are not prepared," he warned.
The WHO chief also stressed that vaccines alone would not allow any country to emerge from the crisis and called for all available tools to be used: masks, regular ventilation of enclosed spaces and keeping distances. "Do all this. Do it consistently. Do it right," he insisted.
Tedros noted that the emergence of Omicron has prompted some countries to accelerate booster vaccination programs for their entire adult population, "although we have no evidence of the effectiveness of booster vaccination against this variant." "The WHO is concerned that such programmes will again lead to the accumulation of vaccines for Covid-19 that we have seen this year and exacerbate inequality. It is clear, as we move forward, that booster doses could play an important role, particularly for those at higher risk of developing serious disease or dying," he added.
"I want to be clear: WHO is not against booster doses. We are against (vaccine) inequality," said Tedros. "It is a matter of priorities. The order (of vaccination) matters. Giving booster doses to low-risk groups just endangers the lives of those who are high-risk and still waiting for their first dose because of supply problems," he explained. "On the other hand, giving booster doses to those at higher risk may save more lives than giving first doses to those in low-risk groups," he concluded in the Agency's online, regular update from Geneva."
Source: APE-MPA
[/p]Contents of this article including associated images are belongs to Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
