The acute phase of the WHO pandemic could end this year, if nearly 70% of the world’s people are vaccinated. (file)
Cape Town:
The head of the World Health Organization said on Friday that the acute phase of the pandemic could end this year if nearly 70 percent of the world’s people are vaccinated.
“Our hope is that the acute phase of this epidemic will end this year, with one condition of course, 70 percent vaccination (the target has been achieved) by the middle of this year, around June, July,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in South Africa.
“If that has to be done, the acute phase may indeed be over, and that’s what we’re hoping for. It’s in our hands. It’s not a matter of chance. It’s a matter of choice.”
He was speaking during the visit of Afrigen Biologics & Vaccines, which has produced the first mRNA COVID vaccine made in Africa using Moderna’s sequence.
“We expect this vaccine to be more suited to the contexts in which it will be used with fewer storage constraints and at a lower cost,” the WHO boss said.
The vaccine will be ready for clinical trials in November, with approval expected in 2024.
Afrigen is leading a pilot project supported by the WHO and COVAX initiatives.
Only 11 percent of Africans are vaccinated, the lowest rate in the world. Last week the WHO’s Africa office said the continent must increase its vaccination rate “six times” to reach the 70 percent target.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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