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Covid-19: WHO warns against “vaccine nationalism” or face further virus mutations

BMJ 2021; 372 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n292 (Published 01 February 2021) Cite this as: BMJ 2021;372:n292

Linked Opinion

We need an equitable and coordinated global approach to covid-19 vaccination

  1. Lynn Eaton
  1. London, UK

World Health Organization officials have voiced concerns at “vaccine nationalism” which could increase the risk of the coronavirus mutating further, after a week long row over a shortfall in EU supplies of covid-19 vaccines.

Bruce Aylward, senior adviser to WHO’s director general, said, “Anything that restricts the ability to get these products out will affect our ability to control this disease and prevent variants emerging. The world is going to have to collaborate to get out of this,” he said.

Vaccines alone were not the solution, however, said WHO technical lead Maria Van Kerkhove. Test and trace measures, social distancing, mask wearing, and personal protective equipment will still be essential to control the virus, she said.

Meanwhile, WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on countries that had vaccines left over after vaccinating their own priority health staff and at-risk groups to share them with others under the Covax programme. “Health and care workers have been on the frontlines of the covid-19 pandemic …

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