WHO warns COVID-19 pandemic is definitely not over

The WHA session kicked off in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 22 to focus on key issues including responding to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the Global Health Initiative for Peace.

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told officials at the opening session that although the number of reported cases had fallen since the peak of the Omicron wave, vigilance was still needed not to distract from efforts to end the pandemic.

“Rejecting testing and sequencing means we are blinding ourselves to the evolution of the virus,” Tedros said, noting that nearly 1 billion people in countries with low income are still unvaccinated.

In a weekly report on the global COVID-19 situation released on May 19, the WHO said that the number of new infections appeared to have stabilized after weeks of decline since the end of March, while the total number of weekly deaths reduction.

Although much progress has been made, with 60% of the world’s population vaccinated, “the pandemic won’t end anywhere until it ends everywhere,” Tedros stressed.

The WHO director-general added: “Reported cases are on the rise in nearly 70 countries in all regions, and this happens in a world where testing rates have plummeted.”

He said deaths were on the rise in Africa, the continent with the lowest vaccination rates. Only 57 countries – most of them wealthy ones – have vaccinated 70% of their population.

Call for wider vaccination coverage

While the supply COVID-19 vaccine Although the world has improved, there is still not enough “political commitment to deploy vaccination.” According to Mr. Tedros, there is a gap in implementation capacity in some countries while others lack experience. fee.

“Overall, we see vaccine hesitancy due to misinformation and misinformation,” said Tedros. The pandemic won’t magically disappear, but we can end it.”

With more than 3.8 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered to date, the world continues to see stark disparities in vaccination coverage as low-income countries struggle to immunize populations. Meanwhile, higher-income countries are now injecting a fourth or even fifth dose.

According to WHO, only 16% of people in low-income countries receive a single dose of the vaccine – compared with 80% in high-income countries. 18 countries have less than 10% of the population vaccinated against COVID-19.

More action is needed to protect everyone

All countries should maintain COVID-19 surveillance and sequencing, and prepare to reintroduce and adjust social and public health measures as necessary, the WHO Director-General said. . In addition, countries need to restore essential health services as quickly as possible and work with communities to build trust.

“Pandemics are not the only crisis in our world,” said Tedros, repeating the theme of the 75th WHA – “Health for Peace, Peace for Health”.

The conference agenda will also include complex humanitarian crises in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen, he announced.

“War shakes and shatters the foundations of previously stable societies. It deprives entire communities of essential health services, leaving children at risk of disease-preventable diseases. vaccines… Indeed, war, famine and disease are companions,” he said.

WHO has verified 373 attacks on health facilities or staff in 14 countries and territories so far this year. The attacks claimed the lives of 154 medical staff and patients and injured 131.

“Attacks on healthcare workers and medical facilities are a violation of international humanitarian law. But they are also an attack on the right to health protection,” said Mr. Tedros.

The seven-day WHA session is expected to be the session with the largest number of topics discussed and resolutions adopted, including the appointment of a new director general of the WHA. WHO in the next 5 years. Incumbent General Manager Tedros is currently the only candidate.