The World Health Organization has expressed fears about the perception of the public that the coronavirus pandemic is over since vaccines are set to be rolled out.
“Progress on vaccines gives us all a lift and we can now start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. However, WHO is concerned that there is a growing perception that the COVID-19 pandemic is over,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday.
Britain has approved Pfizer Inc.’s COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday. They will be distributing the vaccine next week.
Tedros said that the public plays a big role on whether the vaccine will put an end on the pandemic.
“We know it’s been a hard year and people are tired, but in hospitals that are running at or over capacity it’s the hardest it can possibly be,” he said.
“The truth is that at present, many places are witnessing very high transmission of the COVID-19 virus, which is putting enormous pressure on hospitals, intensive care units and health workers ,” Tedros added.
The WHO reiterated his call that vaccines do not mean zero COVID.
“We are in a pivotal moment in some countries. There are health systems in some countries at the point of collapse,” the WHO added. (TDT)
