Covid-19: WHO calls for a moratorium on vaccine recalls

The Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, at a press conference in Geneva, July 3, 2020. REUTERS - POOL New

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As Israel has started vaccinating its population with a booster dose of the Covid vaccine to deal with the Delta variant, the WHO is calling for a moratorium until the end of September.

The institution considers that it is urgent to reserve these doses for countries where vaccination coverage is almost non-existent.

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All countries are not equal when it comes to immunization.

For now, 80% of the doses of Covid vaccines have gone to high and middle income countries: when in Europe, more than half of the population is fully immune, in

Burundi

, for example, not a single dose was administered. 

This is why when the richest and most advanced countries in terms of immunization consider campaigns for the injection of a third dose - as is already the case in

Israel

and soon in

Germany 

- it does. pounce the boss of WHO. 

►

To read also: Third dose of vaccine: the boss of the WHO denounces the selfishness of rich countries

And it is precisely because it is urgent to reverse the trend or at least to equalize it that it calls for a moratorium on booster doses until the end of September minimum.

Finding it more urgent to make these doses available to countries with 

low vaccination coverage

. 

Washington rejects WHO appeal

Despite the establishment of the Covax system, an international program to fight against vaccine inequality, few rich countries and pharmaceutical groups provide doses to those who need them the most. This is why the WHO recalls that it would be urgent to help each other to slow down the epidemic on a planetary scale. A recommendation that may not be applied in view of the attitude adopted for 18 months.

The White House rejected the WHO's appeal saying the United States “did 

not need

 ” to choose between administering third doses to its citizens or donating them to poor countries.

" 

It is a false alternative, 

" said the spokesperson for the White House.

“

 We think we can do both 

” and “

 we don't need to choose 

” between administering reminders to Americans, which is not yet officially planned, or helping poor countries.

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• WHO

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• Coronavirus