The WHO extends the call for a moratorium on booster doses of Covid until the end of the year

The World Health Organization has extended its call for a moratorium on booster doses of Covid-19 until at least the end of the year.

The WHO previously urged world leaders to maintain booster doses until the end of September.

“Since then, there have been few changes in the world situation, so today I call for an extension of the moratorium until at least the end of the year to allow all countries to vaccinate at least 40% of their population,” he said. say the WHO director. General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday in a briefing.

About 5.5 billion doses of vaccine have been administered worldwide, but 80% have been administered to middle- and high-income countries, according to the WHO.

“I will not be silent when companies and countries that control the global supply of vaccines think that the world’s poor should be satisfied with the remnants,” Tedros said.

Almost 90% of high-income countries have vaccinated at least 10% of their population and 70% of high-income countries have vaccinated at least 40% of their population. “No low-income country has achieved either goal,” Tedros said. “That’s not your fault.”

“High-income countries have promised to give more than 1 billion doses, but less than 15% of those doses have materialized,” Tedros said. “Manufacturers are committed to prioritizing COVAX and low-income countries.”

The Director-General said the WHO had been calling for the fairness of vaccines since the start of the vaccine launch, and that it was not supposed to be done after richer countries had been served.

“We don’t want more promises, we just want the vaccines,” Tedros said. “We have the tools, it’s clear what’s going to happen. Now is the time for true leadership, not empty promises.”