COVID-19: Vaccine Alone Will Not End Pandemic – WHO Chief

WHO Tedros Ghebreyesus

Director-General, World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a working vaccine alone will not end the coronavirus pandemic.

He said this on Monday, adding that communities and individuals must still be engaged.

The comments come as U.S. pharmaceutical company Moderna announced that its COVID-19 vaccine is 94.5% effective in late-stage trials.

Speaking remotely to WHO’s executive board, Tedros said it is important to emphasise that a vaccine will complement other tools, not replace them.

Tedros said once a vaccine is given final approval and is ready to be distributed, supplies will initially be limited.

He added that health care workers, older people and other at-risk populations will be prioritised, which hopefully will reduce deaths and ease the strain on health systems.

“That will still leave the virus with a lot of room to move,” he said.

He added that there will still be a need for testing, contact tracing and isolation.

Stephen Jesuwale

Jesuwale Stephen is a journalist who finished from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism. He is a distinctive writer, media strategist and also a Digital Marketer