By Covid-19 continues to claim around 1,700 lives each week globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the need for at-risk populations to stay current with their vaccinations.
Despite the ongoing fatalities, Tedros expressed concern over declining vaccine coverage among health workers and individuals over 60, who are among the most vulnerable. “Data show that vaccine coverage has declined among health workers and people over 60, which are two of the most at-risk groups,” he stated during a press conference.
The WHO recommends that those in the highest-risk categories receive a Covid-19 vaccine within 12 months of their last dose. Officially, over seven million Covid-19 deaths have been reported to the WHO, but the actual number is believed to be significantly higher.
The pandemic has severely impacted global economies and overwhelmed health systems. Although Tedros declared the end of COVID-19 as an international public health emergency in May 2023, more than three years after the virus was first identified in Wuhan, China, the WHO continues to urge governments to maintain virus surveillance, sequencing, and ensure access to affordable and reliable tests, treatments, and vaccines.
