More than half the world now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, but challenges remain: WHO

More than half of the global population is now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

But the threat of more variants means it is too early to assume victory over the virus — even amid declining cases, says the World Health Organization.

“It’s encouraging to see that deaths from COVID-19 are now declining globally and in most regions. And it’s pleasing to see some countries being able to relax restrictions without their health systems being overwhelmed,” said WHO Secretary-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday.

“But it’s far too early to declare victory over COVID-19. There are still many countries with high rates of hospitalization and death, and low rates of vaccine coverage and with high transmission. The threat of a new and more dangerous variant remains very real.”

Tedros said 56 per cent of people around the world are now fully vaccinated, though only nine per cent of people in low-income countries are among that number.

Many of the constraints in getting broader access to vaccines last year are easing, with 1.3 billion doses delivered so far through the COVAX vaccine-sharing partnership, he added.