Dr. Rana Al-Hajjah, Director of Programs at the World Health Organization’s regional office in Egypt, revealed that the WHO is set to announce a new vaccine that offers protection against both influenza and COVID-19. She made this statement at the Population Conference held in the New Administrative Capital.
In an exclusive statement to “Al-Youm Al-Sabaa,” on the sidelines of the conference, Dr. Al-Hajjah remarked, “Vaccines are evolving, and currently, a combined vaccine is under development that provides immunity against both the flu and the coronavirus. The WHO will soon release an official statement regarding this.”
She emphasized that if a combined vaccine isn’t available, individuals should consider getting both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines separately, especially since the flu can be more dangerous. Multiple companies are gearing up to produce this combined vaccine. She particularly recommended the COVID-19 vaccine for vulnerable groups, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses.
Commenting on virus mutations, Dr. Al-Hajjah noted, “The mutations we’re seeing now were expected. Any virus that spreads among people will mutate. As an organization, we constantly monitor these mutations, assessing their severity and potential threat. This emphasizes the importance of preventive measures and the need for strong health systems to counter mutations and viruses.”
She also added that while herd immunity doesn’t offer complete protection, preventive measures like avoiding crowded places, getting the COVID-19 vaccine, and learning from the pandemic remain crucial. Dr. Al-Hajjah concluded by emphasizing that there are multiple strains, and the WHO is diligently tracking these mutations.
