GENEVA, SWITZERLAND— The World Health Organization called on Wednesday to avoid giving out boosters for COVID-19 vaccines until the end of the year, pointing to the millions worldwide who have yet to receive their first dose.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he will not stay silent, knowing that companies and countries that control the global supply of vaccines think that the world’s poor should be satisfied with leftovers.
Tedros urged rich countries and vaccine makers to prioritize in giving out first dose to health workers and vulnerable populations in poorer nations rather than boosters.
He also stated that he doesn’t want to use boosters for healthy people and those who are already fully vaccinated.
The WHO called a hold on COVID-19 vaccine booster shots until the end of September and address first the rapid inequity in doses distribution between the rich and poor countries.
WHO has acknowledged the importance of booster shots especially for the immunocompromised people, but still stressed that for healthy people, second doses of vaccines are very effective in fighting severe complications