WHO says COVID vaccines saved a minimum of 1.4 mn lives in Europe

At the least 1.4 million lives have been saved in Europe due to COVID vaccines, the World Well being Group mentioned on Tuesday, recalling that the virus was “right here to remain”.

The WHO European area—which covers 53 nations together with these of Central Asia—has registered greater than 277.7 million instances of COVID-19 and greater than 2.2 million deaths, in keeping with the group’s most up-to-date information, from December 19, 2023.

“In the present day, there are 1.4 million individuals in our area—most of them aged—who’re round to get pleasure from life with their family members as a result of they took the important choice to be vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19,” WHO Europe regional director Hans Kluge advised reporters.

“The primary booster doses alone saved an estimated 700,000 lives.”

Kluge mentioned it was important for individuals to guard themselves, particularly these most susceptible, in the course of the winter.

“As we study to stay with COVID-19 and different respiratory viruses, it is completely important for susceptible populations to remain updated with their COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations as really useful.”

Europe should proceed to spend money on its well being care methods, he mentioned.

“We could also be unprepared for something out-of-the-ordinary, such because the emergence of a brand new, extra extreme COVID-19 variant or a but unknown pathogen.”

He known as for extra funding to resolve shortages of well being care employees and fundamental remedy.

“I’m deeply involved that well being is slipping from the political agenda and that we’re failing to deal with the ticking time-bomb going through our well being and care workforce,” Kluge mentioned.

© 2024 AFP