WHO Is Optimistic That COVID-19 Will Be Defeated In 2022, Asks Rich Countries Not To 'devour' Global Vaccines

Illustrations (DOK VOI)

JAKARTA - WHO Secretary-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesu said he was optimistic that COVID-19 would be defeated in 2022 as long as countries work together to suppress its spread.

This was conveyed by Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesu following the 'narrow nationalism and hoarding of vaccines' by certain countries. Global COVID cases touched 287 million, while nearly 5.5 million people have died.

All over the world, people celebrate the new year but the celebration is not heard. Almost every country prevents crowds from gathering. COVID, says Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesu, as reported by the BBC on Saturday, January 1, has become a part of everyday life, a disease that has closed borders, separated families, and in some places made it unthinkable to leave the house without a mask.

Dr. Tedros struck a positive tone in his speech. He noted that there are now more tools to treat COVID-19. But he warned that continued inequalities in vaccine distribution increased the risk of the virus developing.

"Narrow nationalism and vaccine hoarding by some countries have undermined equity and created ideal conditions for the emergence of Omicron variants, and the longer the inequality continues, the higher the risk of the virus developing in ways we cannot prevent or predict," he said.

"If we end injustice, we end the pandemic," he added.

Dr. Tedros also alluded to the low vaccination rate. While most populations in Europe and America have received at least one dose. WHO's target for full vaccination rates in 40 percent of every country by the end of 2021 has been missing in most of Africa.

Dr. Tedros has previously criticized rich countries for "gobbling up" the global vaccine supply, completely vaccinating large portions of their population while others wait for their first doses.

The WHO has set a new goal for 2022 to vaccinate 70 percent of people in all countries by July to end the pandemic.