The World Health Organization sounded the alarm on Tuesday because of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant and the fact that the danger it poses could be underestimated by the population. "77 countries have now reported cases of Omicron, but the reality is that Omicron is likely to be found in most countries even though it has not yet been detected," said the director general of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, at a press conference in Geneva. “We are concerned that people view Omicron as benign. Even if Omicron causes less severe symptoms, the number of cases could once again overwhelm unprepared health systems, ”he added.
Many uncertainties still hang over the nature of this new variant which has plunged the planet into panic since it was detected in November by South Africa. WHO further fears that the booster doses decided in many Western countries for adult populations could undermine vaccination in poor countries. “WHO is not against booster doses. We are against the inequity ”vaccine, affirmed the director general of the WHO. “It's a question of prioritization. Giving booster doses to groups at low risk of serious illness or death simply endangers the lives of those at high risk who are still waiting for their first doses, ”he insisted.He pointed out that 41 countries have still not succeeded in immunizing 10% of their population and 98 countries have not reached the 40% mark. “If we end the inequity, we end the pandemic. If we allow the inequity to continue, we allow the pandemic to move forward, ”he continued.
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In this vaccination center, the doses of the Pfizer vaccine are reserved for those under 30 years old
In France, where Covid-19 contamination has been at its highest since April, the government has reactivated several levers of mobilization and support for caregivers in the face of the fifth wave of Covid-19.
Faced with a "viral explosion" of the Covid while the resuscitation beds are full, the Mediterranean island of Corsica has called "doctors, nurses and caregivers", whether they are "employees, liberal or retired", to strengthen hospitals.
A study in South Africa also estimated that Pfizer's vaccine was less effective overall against the Omicron variant, but still provided 70% protection against severe cases of the disease.
