WHO Requests Rich Countries To Pause Additional Covid Booster Shots To Meet Global Vaccination Targets

The World Health Organization has expressed concerns over the uneven distribution of Covid-19 vaccines. It has urged rich countries to pause the thought of booster does. The appeal comes as poor countries are yet to begin the vaccination drive. The WHO has said that rich countries should rethink giving the booster dose. It suggested that such countries can hold the booster shot till September end. This will offer space for poor countries to share vaccines with their people. The UN body noted that hundreds of millions of people in different parts of the world are still waiting for their first dose. Notably, rich countries like the US, the UK, Israel, and more are actively considering rolling out the third booster dose.

According to the WHO data, over 4 billion vaccine doses have been given till the first week of August worldwide. Around 80 percent of the doses have been given in upper-middle and high-income nations. It said that low-income countries have just given 1.5 doses per 100 people. This massive difference is mainly due to the supply crunch. The talks about the third shot started doing the rounds after a spurt in Delta variant cases. It accounts for 93 percent of the total cases in the US. It requires immediate medication and also increases the patient’s stay at the hospital. This is why countries like America, Britain are considering rolling out additional shots.

WHO underlined that people living in poor countries are most vulnerable and the spreading of the Delta variant has only worsened the situation. They remain unprotected due to the lack of supply. The WHO had in May pitched for global support to allow every country to inoculate at least 10 percent of its people by September. The international public health body has called for reversing the decision for a third dose immediately as the majority of vaccines already go to rich countries. It also suggested that G20 nations should make commitments to enable every country to vaccinate 10 percent population by September. It expressed hope that the G20 will help in achieving the global vaccination targets.