WHO warns blanket booster programmes of Covid-19 vaccines are likely to prolong the pandemic

Geneva: World Health Organization chief has warned that blanket booster programmes of COVID-19 vaccines are likely to prolong the pandemic, rather than ending it by diverting supply to countries that already have high levels of vaccination coverage. 

Addressing a media briefing at Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus added, it will give the virus more opportunity to spread and mutate. He said, no country can boost its way out of the pandemic and boosters cannot be seen as a ticket to go ahead with planned celebrations, without the need for other



precautions.

The WHO chief said, about 20 per cent of all vaccine doses administered every day are currently being given as boosters or additional doses. Mr Tedros laid emphasis upon the vast majority of hospitalisations and deaths are reported among unvaccinated people, not un-boosted people.

The WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunisation said that at least 126 countries around the world have already issued recommendations on boosters or additional vaccine doses, and 120 had started implementing those programmes.