Booster dose is a scandal must stop now WHO

At a time when the discourse on booster shot of Covid vaccines has commenced in many countries, including India, the WHO called distribution of booster doses “a scandal that must stop now”. In August, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for a global moratorium on boosters that he later extended until the end of the year. But, countries such as Germany, Israel, Canada and US have gone ahead with booster schemes. “It makes no sense to give boosters to healthy adults or to vaccinate kids, when health workers, older people and other high risk groups around the world are still waiting for their first dose,” Tedros said as he condemned stockpiling and administration of booster shots.
Countries with highest vaccination coverage are stockpiling more vaccines, whereas low-income nations are struggling to get even the first dose for their population. “Everyday there are six times more boosters administered globally than primary doses in low-income countries,” Tedros said.
In India, while the government is yet to take a call on booster doses and is focused on ramping up coverage of first and second doses, many states and health experts have started advocating in favour of booster doses, mainly for health workers and elderly who were prioritised to receive the vaccine.
WHO officials underlined unequal distribution of jabs can pose risks not only to countries with low vaccination coverage but also to others as economies are opening up, restrictions are being lifted and travel has begun.
Noting that over 100 countries are still short of vaccinating even 40% of their population with first dose of the vaccine, the WHO said an additional 550 million doses are required to achieve the target of vaccinating at least 40% of the population of every country by end of this year.

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