WHO takes U-turn on COVID-19 booster shot, backs it after ‘moratorium’ call

Vaccination with authorized COVID-19 vaccines provides a high level of protection against serious illness and death amid the continued spread of the highly infectious Omicron variant, according to a statement issued by the WHO expert group, news agency AP Reported.

Last year, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for a moratorium on booster doses. The Director-General of the WHO has called for a moratorium on booster vaccinations for healthy adults by the end of 2021 to combat the continuing and deepening disparity in global vaccine access (2). While many countries are far from reaching the 40% coverage target by the end of 2021, other countries have vaccinated over this limit, already reaching children and implementing comprehensive booster vaccination programs.

The updated recommendations come from an 18-member advisory group that focuses on the impact of “forms of concern” — the most worrisome forms, such as Omicron — and assesses the effectiveness of vaccines against them.

Several scientific studies have proven that booster doses of authorized vaccines help restore weakened immunity and protect against severe COVID-19. Booster programs in affluent countries, including the UK, Canada and the US, have been credited with preventing the increase in omicron infections from spreading to hospitals and cemeteries.

With 4,575 fresh cases, the cumulative covid According to the data updated by the Union Health Ministry at 8 am today, the caseload in the country has increased to 42,975,883. Covid-19 active cases fell below 50,000 after 665 days with 2,986 in a 24-hour period.

The death toll rose to 5,15,355 with 145 fresh deaths, data updated at 8 am.