WHO Director-General Says Focus on COVID-19 Vaccinations in 2022

The World Health Organization (WHO) executive board met today in Geneva, where its director-general warned that 'global conditions remain ideal for new SARS-CoV-2 betacoronavirus variants to emerge.'

During his address on January 24, 2022, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Ph.D., said it's dangerous to assume that Omicron will be the last variant or that the world has reached the end game of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, he said it's possible to end the acute phase of the pandemic in 2022 if countries use tools and strategies known to drive down cases, including vaccinations.

Tedros said that although a comprehensive approach is needed, he singled out 'bridging the vaccine access gap as a key step for ending the acute phase.'

Currently, 85% of Africa's population has not received a single COVID-19 dose.

"How can that be acceptable to any of us," stated Tedros.

"We simply cannot end the emergency phase of the pandemic unless we bridge this gap."

"And we are making progress."

Just a week ago, COVAX delivered its one billionth COVID-19 dose.

Currently, the WHO has Listed ten COVID-19 vaccines for use globally.

As of January 21, 2022, about 63.3% of the U.S. population had been fully vaccinated with an Approve/Authorized COVID-19 vaccine. And the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported almost 70% of Europeans had been fully vaccinated.