WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stresses again that COVID-19 booster shots should be delayed.
Speaking at a news conference Ghebreyesus highlighted that priority should be given to raising vaccination rates in countries where only 1% or 2% of the population has been inoculated, as stronger variants of the coronavirus could develop if vaccination rates are not raised globally. Hence, vaccines intended as booster shots should be donated to countries where people have not received their first or second doses.
“In addition, there is a debate about whether booster shots are effective at all,” Ghebreyesus said.
Those whose immune system is compromised should get a booster shot, though they represent only a small percentage of the population, he added.
The WHO also said last week that current data does not indicate that COVID-19 booster shots are needed and that the most vulnerable people worldwide should be fully vaccinated before high-income countries deploy a top-up.
Speaking at a news conference Ghebreyesus highlighted that priority should be given to raising vaccination rates in countries where only 1% or 2% of the population has been inoculated, as stronger variants of the coronavirus could develop if vaccination rates are not raised globally. Hence, vaccines intended as booster shots should be donated to countries where people have not received their first or second doses.
“In addition, there is a debate about whether booster shots are effective at all,” Ghebreyesus said.
Those whose immune system is compromised should get a booster shot, though they represent only a small percentage of the population, he added.
The WHO also said last week that current data does not indicate that COVID-19 booster shots are needed and that the most vulnerable people worldwide should be fully vaccinated before high-income countries deploy a top-up.
