Coronavirus vaccine more important for health workers and Senior citizens, said World Health Organization

WHO said on Monday that it’s important to provide the novel Covid-19 vaccine to those at highest risk around the world which includes health workers and senior citizens with certain diseases that put them at higher risk of dying due to COVID-19.

“Initially, when there will be limited supply, it’s important to provide the vaccine to those at highest risk around the world. This includes health workers, as they are on the frontlines in this pandemic & critical to saving lives & stabilising the overall health system,”,said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO DG.

“It also includes people over 65-years-old and those with certain diseases that put them at higher risk of dying from COVID19,” he also added.

The World Health Organization Director General said that at present 172 countries are engaged with the COVAX, global vaccines facility, which has both the largest and most diverse coronavirus vaccine portfolio in the world.

“The Facility is the critical mechanism for joint procurement and pooling risk across multiple vaccines so that whatever vaccine is proven to be safe and effective – all countries within the facility will be able to access them,” he said.

COVAX is co developers are Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations  and WHO, which aims to accelerate the development and manufacture of coronavirus vaccine

Currently  there are 9 vaccines that are part of this dynamic portfolio, and they are constantly being reviewed and optimised to ensure access to the best possible range of products, said the Director General.

“Even now, discussions are ongoing with four more producers… and a further nine vaccines are currently under evaluation for the longer term,” he stated. Tedros informed investing in the COVAX facility is the fastest way to end this COVID-19 pandemic and ensure a sustainable economic recovery.

“The success of the facility hinges not only on countries signing up to it but also filling key funding gaps for both the research and development work and to support lower-income economies within the facility,” he said.

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