Defense minister attends elite special forces exercise in Northwestern Region    Saudi Arabia to showcase culinary heritage at Taste of Paris 2025    Saudi Arabia fines eight foreign trucks for illegal goods transport in April    Saudi Arabia releases updated GDP data highlighting expanded non-oil sector contribution    PIF announces pricing of $1.25 billion international sukuk offering    GAMI is organizing Saudi pavilion at Athens International Defense and Security Exhibition    Businesses count costs as India and Bangladesh impose trade restrictions    Israel fires largely controlled after mass evacuations    Donald Trump looms large over Australia's election    Trump ousts Waltz as national security adviser, nominates him for UN post    Saudi economy posts 2.7% growth in 1Q 2025    New Parkinson's Pump therapy introduced at King's College Hospital London in Dubai First-of-its-kind treatment offers a new lease on life for the youngest Parkinson's patient in the UAE and MENA region    King Charles sends heartfelt message to fellow cancer patients    Al Nassr crash out as Kawasaki Frontale reach AFC Champions League Elite final    HR Ministry approves regulations for job ads and interviews in private sector    Saudi Transplant Congress discusses scientific advancements and innovations on organ donation and transplantation    Al Ahli stun Al Hilal to reach AFC Champions League Elite final    SR200,000 reward for each player of the Saudi club winning AFC Champions League title    William and Kate celebrate anniversary on Isle of Mull    Duran leads Al Nassr past Yokohama Marinos into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



COVID booster dose campaigns will not end pandemic, WHO says
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 22 - 12 - 2021

Booster dose campaigns are likely to prolong the pandemic instead of ending it, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Wednesday, stating that the campaigns were not a ticket to go ahead with holiday festivities.
"Blanket booster programs are likely to prolong the pandemic rather than ending it by diverting supply to countries that already have high levels of vaccination coverage, giving the virus more opportunity to spread and mutate," said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director-general, at a press briefing.
"No country can boost its way out of the pandemic," he added. Currently, around 20% of the world's vaccine doses administered daily are currently being given as boosters, even though only half of WHO member states have been able to vaccinate 40% of their populations and nearly three in four health workers in Africa remain unvaccinated.
"Boosters cannot be seen as a ticket to go ahead with the planned celebrations without the need for other precautions," Dr. Tedros added.
He said that supply should be sufficient to vaccinate the entire global population by the first quarter of 2022, but only by the end of the year will global vaccine supply be sufficient to give boosters globally.
He urged countries to focus on supporting countries in vaccinating 40% of their populations.
Many Western countries have moved forward with adult booster campaigns as the more transmissible Omicron variant spreads.
The new variant has been reported in at least 106 countries as of this week, WHO said. It has been driving up case numbers in Europe, Africa and the Americas in particular.
While global cases in December have remained similar, deaths increased by 9% globally last week, WHO said in its recent epidemiological report.
The European region — which includes parts of Central Asia — continued to report the highest incidence of weekly cases, followed by the Americas.
Last week, the African region, where the Omicron variant was first detected, reported the highest increase in COVID-19 cases.
"As we approach a new year, we must all learn the painful lessons this year taught us. 2022 must be the end of the COVID-19 pandemic but it must also be the beginning of something else, a new era of solidarity.
"We must leave 2021 behind with sorrow and look forward to 2022 with hope," Dr Tedros said. — Euronews


Clic here to read the story from its source.