World Health Organization Calls for Halt to Third-Dose Vaccination

The WHO director says wealthy countries should forgo a third dose of the coronavirus vaccine and consider poor nations where many people have not yet received their first dose. Adhanom has proposed that booster vaccines be suspended for at least two months.

The World Health Organization, pointing to millions of people worldwide being deprived of coronavirus vaccination, has reminded the international community that universal immunization is the main priority. His remarks are directed at countries that have already begun administering the third dose of vaccine, known as a “booster dose”. Tedros Adhanom says this process should be postponed until at least 10 percent of the world’s population is vaccinated. He has set a two-month deadline for suspending this process; until the end of September.

This call is the World Health Organization’s most forceful appeal to the international community during the pandemic for addressing inequality. However, requests from this organization are not binding on member states.

Adhanom said: “Wealthy countries have provided vaccines for all their citizens, while the average vaccination rate in poor countries is 1.5 percent. We need a fundamental shift in vaccine distribution. Vaccines should go to low-income countries instead of high-income ones.”

Adhanom pointed out that in Africa, people with previous illnesses, those of advanced age, or those working in healthcare facilities and high-risk settings have not even received their first dose of vaccine. He told a press conference that he understands governments’ concerns about the spread of the delta variant and their responsibility for their citizens’ lives: “But it is unacceptable that those who have already consumed the largest reserves of vaccines should again use available vaccines as a third dose.”

Ms. Catherine O’Brien, director of WHO’s vaccine division, previously stated that it is not even clear whether booster doses are actually necessary.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also not confirmed the necessity of a third dose of coronavirus vaccine to date.

Pharmaceutical company BioNTech-Pfizer announced that a third dose of vaccine could strengthen immunization. This dose, called a booster vaccine, is recommended for administration six months after the second dose. Initial studies suggested that the mutated delta virus shows resistance to vaccines. However, it is now being reported that complete vaccination is a protective shield against such mutations.

Israel is the first country in the world to begin public administration of a third dose.

Source: DW