The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Thursday that COVID-19 continues to claim approximately 1,700 lives each week worldwide. The organization urged those most at risk to continue receiving and renewing their vaccinations.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the dangers of waning vaccine protection. In a press conference, he stated that “data shows that vaccine protection has decreased among healthcare workers and individuals over 60, who are among the most vulnerable groups.”
While COVID-19 is rarely fatal, it appears to have a higher rate of long-term complications. Tedros added, “The WHO recommends that individuals in the highest risk categories receive a COVID-19 vaccine within 12 months of their last dose.”
The WHO has reported more than seven million deaths due to COVID-19, though the actual toll of the pandemic is believed to be significantly higher. COVID-19 has also dismantled economies and crippled healthcare systems globally.
In May 2023, Tedros declared the end of COVID-19 as a global health emergency, more than three years after the virus was first detected in Wuhan, China, in late 2019.
The WHO has urged governments to continue monitoring and sequencing viruses, ensuring access to reliable and affordable tests, treatments, and vaccines.
