Epidemiologist says world faces tsunami of infections
The World Health Organization (WHO) representative for Covid-19, Maria van Kerkhove, said that the world is facing a "tsunami of infections, both Delta and Ômicron variants", and that for safety at Christmas "vaccination" by itself is not enough".
In an interview with the Spanish newspaper El País, the epidemiologist urges governments "not to wait to act."
“And I don't mean confinement. Before seeing an increase in the number of hospitalizations, make it mandatory to wear masks, telework, reduce the number of people at events, increase surveillance of the virus genome and prepare hospitals”, asked Maria van Kerkhove.
The WHO representative recalled that "even in Europe, which has high levels of vaccination, there are still blisters of vulnerable people who have not been vaccinated or who do not have full vaccination."
“That's the big problem, whatever the variant. It is hoped that Omicron will be able to escape immune to some degree, but that does not mean that vaccines are useless. Meaning they can protect in the same way we saw with the Delta variant. So please get vaccinated.”
With the approach of the Christmas party and the traditional family gatherings of the time, Maria van Kerkhove asks for “extreme caution”.
“How to spend the holidays safely? There is no zero risk, but it can be reduced if we are all vaccinated, if we get tested before going, if activities take place outdoors, if we limit the number of people. We always have to think about others, because even if we are protected, we can visit people who are not and we don't want to take the virus to anyone, especially the elderly we love”.
For Maria van Kerkhove “vaccination alone is not enough. Vaccination prevents serious illness and death, but it does not prevent infection.”
“That's why we appeal, if you're going to attend meetings, get vaccinated, get a test done before you go, keep the room well ventilated and wear a mask if possible. We know it's complicated, because you take off your mask for dinner. Your actions will have consequences.”
Vaccines prevent hospitalizations and deaths
When asked about the great unknown that the Ômicron variant has the capacity to cause serious illness or death in vaccinated people, the specialist said that, for now, “the information on hospitalizations in South Africa does not reveal whether people had already contracted it. to covid-19 or if they had been vaccinated”.
“We know that vaccines prevent hospitalizations and deaths, but they don't prevent all infections or all transmissions. We have to end this pandemic in 2022”.
However, if there is greater transmissibility of the Ômicron variant "and there is a large number of cases, either because there are reinfections [in people who have already had covid-19] or because there are infections among those already vaccinated, this higher number of cases will translate into if in a greater number of hospitalizations. And more hospitalizations, in an already overloaded system, will lead to more deaths.”
“We need to reduce transmission to low levels, avoid serious diseases with vaccination and obtain early treatment, 2022 has to be the year we do this, it's the third year. If we don't, there will be a fourth year. Is it what we want? We have to make an effort now, be together and fight collectively”, added the epidemiologist, who already had experience in combating other deadly coronaviruses, causing the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
What if Ômicron is more transmissible than Delta, and vaccines aren't as effective? Maria van Kerkhove explained that “in that case the virus will continue to circulate and we will continue to see deaths. The big question is what will happen with the mutations and evolution of the virus”.
booster dose
About the possibility of administering the booster dose of the vaccine to all adults, the expert is categorical: "we have to use vaccines effectively throughout the world, not just in some countries".
“We strongly recommend that vulnerable people receive the first and second shots of the vaccine, before those who are already well protected receive booster shots. Some countries believe they can protect their own population as long as the virus continues to circulate elsewhere. It's a false sense of security. This is a global problem and we need a global solution, a strategic use of available vaccines.”
“We are against giving booster doses in some countries at the expense of other people's lives. It makes no sense from an ethical, moral, economic or epidemiological point of view. There are people dying needlessly."
pandemic is not over
Maria van Kerkhove also leaves an appeal to those who have already been vaccinated. “Use a mask when you are with other people, keep your distance, avoid crowding. They are simple measures, a bit boring, but they are just for now, especially with the new variants”.
“Be careful, know the risks, the pandemic is not over, acting as if it is over is a bad paradigm. You can live your life, you can go out, but don't forget to put on your mask when you're around other people. Now it's time to be careful," he said.
Text translated using artificial intelligence.
