EU, WHO team up to vaccinate poorer countries
The European Union and the World Health Organization will spend 40 million euros - just under $50 million - over the next three years to ensure better access to COVID-19 vaccines in poorer countries in the region.
The WHO regional director for Europe, Hans Kluge told a virtual news briefing on Thursday (February 11) that Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine will benefit from the initiative which focuses on readiness, information campaigns, supplies and health worker training.
“At this point, the overwhelming majority of European countries remain vulnerable. Right now, it’s a thin line between the hope of a vaccine and a false sense of security. Based on information from 29 out of the 37 countries currently vaccinating in the European region today, 7.8 million people have completed their immunization series. That is equivalent to only 1.5% of the population of those 29 countries.”
The two-dose AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, developed with Oxford University, had been clouded by doubts after a small study showed it was less effective at preventing mild or moderate disease with the fast-spreading South African variant of the virus.
Kluge said while the variant was “of particular concern,” it was not yet widespread in the region, but needs to be monitored carefully.
