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There is a surge in confirmed cases in some poorer countries, but most of their population has not yet been vaccinated.
When the Delta variant virus was spreading in many countries around the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for the suspension of the use of the new coronavirus booster vaccine at least until the end of September.
However, the White House on Wednesday was a “wrong choice”, believing that the country would distribute vaccines overseas in sufficient doses, while also ensuring that Americans were fully vaccinated.
Up to now, some countries such as Israel and Germany have announced the implementation of the third dose of vaccination plan. The United Kingdom will also begin to bolster vulnerable groups next month.
WHO: Support poor countries
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the suspension of booster shots will enable at least 10% of the population in each country to be vaccinated.
But Tan Desai warned that poorer countries are still lagging behind in vaccination. According to the World Health Organization, due to insufficient supplies, low-income countries can only get 1.5 doses of vaccine for every 100 people.
Tan Desai said that this situation needs to be changed, and most vaccines should flow to low-income countries.
He said, “I understand that governments are concerned that their citizens are threatened by the delta variant virus. But we cannot accept that some countries have used most of the vaccines in the global supply, and now they are using more vaccines.”
The World Health Organization strongly appeals for this. The organization is trying to close the gap between high-income countries and low-income countries. It had hoped that by next month, 10% of people in each country would be vaccinated. But according to the current development trajectory, this goal is unlikely to be achieved.
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Most international travel has ceased.
The United States: “Take care of both”
The United States has not announced a policy to strengthen vaccination, but the White House said on Wednesday that the country has sufficient doses to distribute vaccines overseas, while also ensuring that Americans are fully vaccinated.
“We absolutely think this is the wrong choice, and we can do both,” said Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary.
At the same time, a White House official stated that the United States will eventually require almost all foreign tourists to be fully vaccinated.
The official, who asked not to be named, told several news organizations on Wednesday that the Biden administration has assigned an interdepartmental team to create a phased reopening program for international tourists. The decision has not yet given a timetable.
The official also stated that the government is seeking to reopen travel restrictions in a “safe and sustainable way.” “With limited exceptions… foreigners travelling to the United States from all countries need to be fully vaccinated.”
With the spread of the delta variant virus, the number of confirmed cases in the United States has increased, especially among people who have not been vaccinated.
Pasaki said last week that despite the opposition of airlines and the tourism industry, the United States will “maintain current travel restrictions” due to the increasing number of infections.
Current U.S. COVID-19 regulations prevent most international travelers from entering the country. The US ban has been extended to non-US citizens who have recently visited the UK, the 26 European Schengen countries, Brazil, Ireland, India, Iran and South Africa.
Currently, more than 70% of Americans have received at least one dose of the new crown vaccine. However, officials say that cases are rising in some states, and the number of hospitalizations in Florida has set a record. Many regions and companies in the United States have again issued regulations that force people to wear masks in public places.
Why shouldn’t the effective comparison of the new crown vaccine be passed?
The poorer countries are lagging behind, and the developed countries
In Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo, no one has received two doses of the vaccine.
According to “Our World in Data”, Indonesia has seen large-scale infections due to the delta variant virus in recent months, and the number of deaths has soared, but only 7.9% of the country’s population is fully vaccinated.
Israel has begun rolling out booster vaccines for people over 60 years of age.
Germany announced on Tuesday that it will start providing a third dose of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. Starting in September in the United Kingdom, millions of people classified as susceptible will be given booster vaccines.
This is not the first time Dr. Tedros has called on rich countries to donate vaccine supplies to low-income countries. In May of this year, he called on rich countries to postpone plans to vaccinate children and young people and donate these vaccines.
Dr. Tedros urged countries to provide more vaccines to the Global Equitable Access Program (Covax). However, some countries, including the United Kingdom, are advancing plans to vaccinate children and adolescents.