The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a global call for heightened vigilance and vaccination efforts in response to the emergence of the highly mutated COVID-19 BA.2.86 variant. Data remains limited due to incomplete reporting by member states, but the WHO estimates a surge in hospitalizations worldwide.
WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, expressed deep concern over rising death tolls in parts of the Middle East and Asia. Simultaneously, there is a notable increase in ICU admissions and hospitalizations across various countries. Astonishingly, only 43 of WHO’s Member States currently report death statistics, with only 20 providing information on hospital admissions.
Dr. Ghebreyesus stressed the critical need for timely vaccination, particularly among high-risk groups. He emphasized the importance of not delaying additional doses when recommended.
Furthermore, the WHO announced that the COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) has secured three new licensing agreements for the transfer of vaccine technologies. This significant stride in global collaboration marks a crucial step towards equitable vaccine distribution and knowledge sharing.
As the situation continues to evolve, the WHO urges nations to remain vigilant and prioritize vaccination efforts. Regular updates on COVID-19 trends can be found in the NCN Health report.
Reported by Tracy Ann for NCN News.