The Omicron variant is “highly transmissible” and requires “urgent action”. This was stated by the G7 health ministers meeting at the request of the UK presidency to talk about the new African variant landed in Europe.
Hope: concretely support vaccination in the most fragile countries
“The identification of the Omicron variant in the southern area of Africa confirms the urgent need to do more to vaccinate the population of the most fragile countries,” said Health Minister Roberto Speranza, speaking to the G7 of Health Ministers. “It is not enough to donate doses – continued the minister – we must concretely support those who do not have structured and widespread health services like ours. It is necessary to be sure that the vaccines donated are actually administered and to do so in the most fragile countries, the coordinating role of the UN and the WHO will be needed ”.
G7 praises South Africa, exemplary on Omicron detection and alert
G7 health ministers praised South Africa’s “exemplary work” in both detecting the variant and alerting others to it. This is what is read in the joint declaration on the Omicron variant released at the end of the emergency meeting of the G7 health ministers. “There has been strong support for the creation of an international pathogen surveillance network within the framework of the World Health Organization,” reads the joint statement.