WHO : Mass Vaccination is a Big Challenge, but Herd Immunity is not Advisable

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned people not to be blindly optimistic about the death rate of COVID-19, saying that as the number of confirmed cases increases, the death rate will also rise. It is unethical to allow the infection to spread in order to obtain 'herd immunity' and will lead to unnecessary deaths.
 

In Europe, there are 100,000 new cases every day. Countries such as Italy, Switzerland, and Russia have all reached new highs.
 

According to a Reuters report on October 15, WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan said that although the number of deaths per day in the world has dropped from the peak of 7,500 in April to around 5,000, intensive care The number of cases in the ward is still rising.
 

Swaminathan said in a WHO social media event, 'The increase in mortality always lags behind the increase in cases by a few weeks, and we should not be complacent about the decline in mortality.'
 

Although the world is promoting the development of the new coronavirus vaccine, dozens of clinical trials and initial vaccination this year are promising, but Swaminatan reiterated that rapid and mass vaccination is unlikely. The two vaccine candidates conducted by Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca in the United States have been suspended due to safety issues, and the production of billions of doses of the vaccine that will eventually succeed will be a huge challenge. Vaccinate first and make difficult decisions.
 

Swaminathan said that most people agree that health care workers and front-line workers should be vaccinated first, but even so, it is necessary to determine which of them are at the highest risk, then the elderly, and so on. 'A healthy young man may have to wait until 2022,' he said.
 

The World Health Organization stated that allowing the infection to spread in order to obtain 'herd immunity' is unethical and will lead to unnecessary deaths. It urges people to wash their hands frequently, maintain social distancing, wear masks, and, when inevitable, impose limited and targeted restrictions on movement to control the spread of the virus.
 

'We should only discuss the issue of "herd immunity" in the context of vaccines. At least 70% of people need to be vaccinated to truly stop the spread of the virus,' Swaminathan said.