WHO / COVID-19 UPDATE

STORY: WHO / COVID-19 UPDATE
TRT: 6:16
SOURCE: WHO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 22 DECEMBER 2021, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST:

FILE – GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

1. Wide shot, WHO emblem outside headquarters

22 DECEMBER 2021, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

2. Wide shot, Dr Tedros and Dr Van Kerkhove at dais
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
"It’s frankly difficult to understand how a year since the first vaccines were administered, 3 in 4 health workers in Africa remain unvaccinated. While some countries are now rolling out blanket booster programmes, only half of WHO’s Member States have been able to reach the target of vaccinating 40 percent of their populations by the end of the year, because of distortions in global supply. Enough vaccines were administered globally this year that the 40 percent target could have been reached in every country by September, if those vaccines had been distributed equitably, through COVAX and AVAT."
4. Wide shot, Dr Tedros and Dr Van Kerkhove at dais
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
"We’re encouraged that supply is improving. Today, COVAX shipped its 800 millionth vaccine dose. Half of those doses have been shipped in the past three months. Our projections show that supply should be sufficient to vaccinate the entire global adult population, and to give boosters to high-risk populations, by the first quarter of 2022. However, only later in 2022 will supply be sufficient for extensive use of boosters in all adults. So, I call once again on countries and manufacturers to prioritize COVAX and AVAT, and to work together to support those who are furthest behind."
6. Wide shot, Dr Tedros and Dr Van Kerkhove at dais
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
"Today, the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, or SAGE, is issuing an interim statement on booster doses. SAGE concluded that the focus of immunization must remain on decreasing death and severe disease and expressed concern that blanket booster programmes will exacerbate vaccine inequity. About 20 percent of all vaccine doses administered every day are currently being given as boosters or additional doses. Blanket booster programmes are likely to prolong the pandemic, rather than ending it, by diverting supply to countries that already have high levels of vaccination coverage, giving the virus more opportunity to spread and mutate. It’s important to remember that the vast majority of hospitalizations and deaths are in unvaccinated people, not un-boosted people. And we must be very clear that the vaccines we have remain effective against both the Delta and Omicron variants."
8. Wide shot, Dr Tedros and Dr Van Kerkhove at dais
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist, World Health Organization (WHO):
"But I think this is a time where the data is evolving. We're learning more and more. It's important that we do not conclude that vaccines are ineffective (against Omicron) at this stage. We have said repeatedly it's very unlikely that a vaccine will become completely ineffective clinically, because that's not how vaccines usually act. But obviously we have to be driven by the data and our recommendations will change accordingly based on the emerging evidence."
10. Wide shot, Dr Tedros and Dr Van Kerkhove at dais
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, COVID-19 Technical lead, Health Emergencies Programme, World Health Organization (WHO):
"There's a lot more to do. I do believe we're still in the middle of this pandemic, unfortunately. But I completely believe that we have the power to end it in 2022. So, vaccine equity and getting the vaccines to those who need them most in all countries must be a priority for every single government, not just some. We need to also be able to use tools to drive transmission down because if we don't, we will continue to see the virus change and the virus threaten us in ways that will bring us closer to the beginning rather than closer to the end."
12. Wide shot, Dr Tedros and Dr Van Kerkhove at dais
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, COVID-19 Technical lead, Health Emergencies Programme, World Health Organization (WHO):
“What we are learning about Omicron is certainly we have this increased transmission, but the information on severity is still uncertain. We don't have that complete picture yet, and it is too early to conclude whether or not Omicron is less severe than Delta or is as severe as Delta. Now, we do have some data suggesting that rates of hospitalization are lower, some information that people who are hospitalized don't need as much oxygen or invasive ventilation. But again, we have not seen this variant circulate for long enough in populations around the world, certainly in vulnerable populations. We did learn some information this week that Omicron, as it enters older age groups, older people with Omicron tend to have more severe disease. That's unsurprising. We know people have died from Omicron. It's too early to conclude."
14. Wide shot, Dr Tedros and Dr Van Kerkhove at dais
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, COVID-19 Technical lead, Health Emergencies Programme, World Health Organization (WHO):
"We do know that people who are vaccinated have a much lower risk of developing severe disease and death to both Delta and Omicron. So, we stress the importance of vaccination when it is your turn. Regardless of what information we do find out about Omicron and the different vaccines that are in use, it is better to be vaccinated than not. So, if you hear anything from us today, please hear that; and get vaccinated when it's your turn; and fight like hell for vaccine equity for everybody else around the world."
16. Wide shot, Dr Tedros and Dr Van Kerkhove at dais

STORYLINE:

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus reminded reporters that that the vast majority of hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19 are in “unvaccinated people, not un-boosted people,” and said, “We must be very clear that the vaccines we have remain effective against both the Delta and Omicron variants."

Speaking at a press conference in Geneva today (22 Dec), Dr Tedros said it was “frankly difficult to understand how a year since the first vaccines were administered, three in four health workers in Africa remain unvaccinated.” He said while some countries are now rolling out blanket booster programmes, “only half of WHO’s Member States have been able to reach the target of vaccinating 40 percent of their populations by the end of the year, because of distortions in global supply.” HE said enough vaccines were administered globally this year that the 40 percent target could have been reached in every country by September, “if those vaccines had been distributed equitably, through COVAX and AVAT."

The WHO Director-General said he was encouraged by the improvement in vaccines supplies. He said COVAX shipped its 800 millionth vaccine dose today, with half of those doses being shipped “in the past three months.” He said, “Our projections show that supply should be sufficient to vaccinate the entire global adult population, and to give boosters to high-risk populations, by the first quarter of 2022. However, only later in 2022 will supply be sufficient for extensive use of boosters in all adults. So, I call once again on countries and manufacturers to prioritize COVAX and AVAT, and to work together to support those who are furthest behind."
Dr Tedros noted an interim statement on booster doses by the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE). He said, “SAGE concluded that the focus of immunization must remain on decreasing death and severe disease and expressed concern that blanket booster programmes will exacerbate vaccine inequity. About 20 percent of all vaccine doses administered every day are currently being given as boosters or additional doses. Blanket booster programmes are likely to prolong the pandemic, rather than ending it, by diverting supply to countries that already have high levels of vaccination coverage, giving the virus more opportunity to spread and mutate. It’s important to remember that the vast majority of hospitalizations and deaths are in unvaccinated people, not un-boosted people. And we must be very clear that the vaccines we have remain effective against both the Delta and Omicron variants."

WHO Chief Scientist, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, said the data on the Omicron variant was still evolving. She said, “It's important that we do not conclude that vaccines are ineffective (against Omicron) at this stage. We have said repeatedly it's very unlikely that a vaccine will become completely ineffective clinically, because that's not how vaccines usually act. But obviously we have to be driven by the data and our recommendations will change accordingly based on the emerging evidence."

WHO’s COVID-19 Technical lead, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, said she believes the world is still “in the middle of this pandemic,” but stressed that “we have the power to end it in 2022.” She said vaccine equity must be a priority for every single government. She said, “We need to also be able to use tools to drive transmission down because if we don't, we will continue to see the virus change and the virus threaten us in ways that will bring us closer to the beginning rather than closer to the end."

Dr Van Kerkhove said, “What we are learning about Omicron is certainly we have this increased transmission, but the information on severity is still uncertain. We don't have that complete picture yet, and it is too early to conclude whether or not Omicron is less severe than Delta or is as severe as Delta. Now, we do have some data suggesting that rates of hospitalization are lower, some information that people who are hospitalized don't need as much oxygen or invasive ventilation. But again, we have not seen this variant circulate for long enough in populations around the world, certainly in vulnerable populations. We did learn some information this week that Omicron, as it enters older age groups, older people with Omicron tend to have more severe disease. That's unsurprising. We know people have died from Omicron. It's too early to conclude."

The WHO COVID-19 Technical Lead said people who are vaccinated have a much lower risk of developing severe disease and death to both Delta and Omicron and stressed the importance of vaccination. She said, “Regardless of what information we do find out about Omicron and the different vaccines that are in use, it is better to be vaccinated than not. So, if you hear anything from us today, please hear that; and get vaccinated when it's your turn; and fight like hell for vaccine equity for everybody else around the world."