- Germany and France will continue to use the Covid-19 vaccine booster from September.
- WHO Director-General Tan Desai said that it is unacceptable for rich countries to use more global vaccine supplies.
- To date, France and Germany have vaccinated 64.5% and 62% of the population with at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine.
Germany and France will continue to use the Covid-19 vaccine booster from September, ignoring the call of the World Health Organization (WHO) to postpone vaccination until more people around the world.
Although the WHO has issued its strongest statement to date, the decision to continue with enhanced injections highlights the challenge of responding to the global pandemic, while countries are trying to protect their citizens from the more contagious delta variants.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that France is working hard to introduce the third dose of Covid-19 vaccine to the elderly and vulnerable groups starting in September.
Macron said on his Instagram account: “The third dose may be necessary, not immediately for everyone, but for the most vulnerable and oldest people.”
The Ministry of Health stated that Germany intends to provide boosters for immunocompromised patients, elderly people and nursing home residents from September.
A draft report seen by Reuters shows that the World Health Organization is seeking US$11.5 billion in emergency funding to fight the more contagious variant of the Coronavirus Delta, because of fears that rich countries will partially bypass their Covid-19 plans.https://t.co/ZgZBlbwuJc
— News24 (@News24) August 4, 2021
WHO Director-General Tan Desai called on Wednesday to stop the use of vaccine boosters at least by the end of September, saying that it is unacceptable for rich countries to use more global vaccine supplies.
According to WHO, high-income countries injected about 50 doses of vaccine for every 100 people in May, and this number has since doubled. Due to lack of supply, low-income countries can only inject 1.5 doses per 100 people.
Tan Desai said: “I understand that all governments are worried about protecting their people from the Delta variant. But we cannot accept that countries that have used most of the global vaccine supply are using more vaccines.”
Read | WHO’s long-term Covid “deep concern”
Germany rejected these allegations, saying it would also donate at least 30 million doses of vaccine to poorer countries.
The ministry stated: “We hope to provide a preventive third vaccination for disadvantaged groups in Germany, and at the same time support as many people in the world as possible to vaccinate.”
The Macron government is trying to strengthen France’s vaccination program, as the country faces a fourth wave of virus and street demonstrations to protest the government’s Covid policy.
To date, France and Germany have vaccinated 64.5% and 62% of the population with at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine, of which 49% of French and 53% of Germans are fully vaccinated.
