Geneva-Sana
The World Health Organization has expressed concern about the outbreak of the Omicron mutant at an unprecedented rate in most countries, calling for the use of all available means to combat the virus, including vaccines and precautionary measures.
The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said in a press conference carried by Agence France-Presse that "77 countries have so far reported infections with Omicron, but the reality is that the mutant is likely present in most countries even if it has not been detected yet," adding that Omicron is spreading at a rate that we have not seen. Like before with any other mutant.
The Director of the Health Organization also warned the international community that vaccines alone will not allow any country to exit the crisis, calling for the use of all available means to combat the virus, such as putting masks, regular ventilation of closed halls, and spatial distancing.
Ghebreyesus indicated that the emergence of Omicron prompted some countries to provide booster doses of anti-Corona vaccines to all their residents, despite the lack of evidence regarding the effectiveness of these booster doses against the mutant, expressing his fear that campaigns to give these booster doses would contribute to the accumulation of vaccines in rich countries, which would weaken vaccination. In poor countries again, the organization's opposition to the unequal distribution of vaccines is expressed.
For his part, the advisor to the Director-General of the organization, Bruce Aylward, warned that the mutant is more transmissible and its impact is not clear, warning of the seriousness of the situation and the spread of the mutant on the occasion of the end of the year holidays.
A study conducted in South Africa and published today showed that the American Pfizer vaccine is generally less effective against Omicron, but protects by 70 percent from the severe symptoms of the disease that it causes.