Top brass at the World Health Organization have stated that Europe is at the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic despite the continent’s current supply of vaccines. Europe has reportedly seen a jump of over 50% in COVID-19 cases with countries like the Netherlands tightening restrictions due to spikes in cases.
During a recent press briefing WHO emergencies chief Dr. Michael Ryan stated that while many vaccines are available, the uptake of said vaccines has not been equal. Dr. Ryan went on to call for European authorities to close the vaccination gap while WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has stated that countries which have immunised over 40% of their population should donate their available vaccines to countries whose citizens have not yet had an opportunity to receive their first dose.
Dr. Tedros called upon pharmaceutical companies to prioritise COVAX supply, the United Nations-backed initiatives to share vaccine doses across the globe.
Over 60 countries have began their booster dose distribution to strengthen immunity ahead of winter, with another wave of COVID-19 being expected. The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) head of clinical studies and manufacturing task force Fergus Sweeney has highlighted the importance that everyone receives their vaccination or completes their doses “because we are not all protected until everyone is protected in that respect.”
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