World Health Organization experts say blanket COVID-19 booster programmes may prolong the pandemic. This diversion of supply to nations with already high coverage will give the virus more chance to spread & mutate.
Speaking at a media briefing earlier today, the WHO says the emphasis now for all countries should be reaching the 40 percent goal urgently and 70 percent by mid-2022.
As more countries including Jamaica try to stem another wave of coronavirus this Christmas, the focus has seemingly drifted more to getting boosters in arms rather than reaching the WHO vaccination targets for COVID-19.
Director General at the WHO, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, says the practice is shaping up to be quite detrimental. He notes the bulk of hospitalization and deaths occur in the un-vaccinated population and not the un-boosted.
Jamaica up to mid-week recorded a COVID-19 vaccination rate of just fewer than 19 percent for fully vaccinated citizens. Booster shots are also available to Jamaicans 18 and older.
