The World Health Organization has warned that the pandemic will not end until 70% of the population is vaccinated

The European Director of the World Health Organization warned on Friday that the epidemic is over: The epidemic will not end until at least 70% of the world’s population is vaccinated, calling for an acceleration of vaccination. And stay vigil as the continent fades away.

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Hans Kluge confirmed in an interview with Agence France-Presse in Copenhagen that “the epidemic will end when we reach the minimum vaccination coverage of 70%,” denouncing “the spread of vaccination (…) which is still very slow,” including in Europe. .

In 53 regions of the European region according to WHO standards, only 26% of the population received the first dose of the vaccine.

In the European Union, 36.6% received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to AFP statistics, and 16.9% were fully vaccinated.

Across the continent, the increasing contagion of new variants is a cause for concern.

The Belgian doctor says: “We know, for example, that (variant) B.1617 (first identified in India) is more contagious than B.117 (first identified in the UK), which was already more contagious than the strain. Previous “.

The so-called Indian variant is present in 27 out of 53 countries in the region, as the number of new cases and deaths decreased for the fifth week in a row, reaching its lowest level since mid-October.

Increased alertness

If vaccines are currently working against mutations in the Coronavirus, time must be cautious.

Mr. Cluj was particularly concerned that “people let their guard down and become irrational, and think that since they received their first or even second dose of the vaccine, the epidemic was over.”

The epidemic has slowed for the fourth consecutive week in the world, especially in Europe where it has decreased since mid-April, according to official data compiled by Agence France-Presse.

After nearly a year and a half since the first cases were discovered in China, summer should be an opportunity for everyone to be vigilant, especially during the large gatherings planned for the European Football Championship.

He insisted, “We must finally give the red card to COVID-19, and not give it extra time, let us be careful,” noting the importance of barrier gestures and wearing a mask.

‘Core’ speed

He pointed out that “in the event of an epidemic, speed is necessary,” and this was what was lacking at the beginning of the epidemic.

“Even when the World Health Organization declared a pandemic, many countries were still waiting,” said the Belgian doctor in his office overlooking a port in the Danish capital. “We lost precious time.”

Until today, “time is against us (…) we must speed up (the vaccination campaign), we must increase the number of vaccines,” he said, noting that the World Health Organization is continuing its study of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V and A Chinese vaccine.

If more vaccinations are needed, the WHO is also calling for more solidarity between countries within the European region.

“It is unacceptable that some countries start immunizing a smaller, fittest portion of their population, while other countries in our region are still (immunizing) all health workers and the most vulnerable people,” he said.

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