Vaccines unlikely to put end to Corona ! WHO more doubtful about it

The head of WHO Europe was more pessimistic on Sep'10 about vaccines ending the pandemic as the new variants put questions on the vaccine's efficacy. Epidemiologists now suggest that it is unrealistic that herd immunity can be reached solely with the use of vaccines, though they remain crucial to contain the pandemic. 

• What's The Story? 

On Friday WHO Regional Director for Europe 'Hans Kluge' told reporters, in particular on the question of additional doses "Faced with the possibility that the virus may be around for many years, health officials must now anticipate how to gradually adapt our vaccination strategy,"  

In May, the WHO director had said "the pandemic will be over once we reach 70 percent minimum coverage in vaccination."Asked by AFP if that figure was still a target or whether more people would need to be vaccinated, Kluge acknowledged that the situation had changed due to new, more transmissible variants, such as Delta.

"I think it brings us to the point that the aim of a vaccination is first and foremost to prevent more serious disease, and that's mortality," he said.

"If we consider that Covid will continue to mutate and remain with us, the way influenza is, then we should anticipate how to gradually adapt our vaccination strategy to endemic transmission and gather really precious knowledge about the impact of additional jabs," he added.

High vaccination rates are also necessary "to unload the pressure from healthcare systems" that desperately need to treat other diseases pushed to the backburner by Covid, Kluge said.

Finance minister of India Nirmala Shitaraman also confirmed government's commitment of Vaccinating its population she has mentioned on Sunday that "Vaccination programme has been going on smoothly in the country and so far 73 crore people have already received jabs free of charge. Today, through vaccination programmes, people were able to conduct business, traders were able to procure products to run businesses, (thereby) boosting economy, or farmers were able to do farming...So, vaccination is the only medicine (to combat the virus, to boost economy)...,".

• What's Next?

The more contagious the virus, the higher the bar for reaching herd immunity, which is when enough people are immune that the virus stops circulating. That can be obtained either by vaccination or natural infection. Considering the pace at which the vaccination programme is in progress over the globe, it is highly unlikely to see covid free earth in near terms however countries with deep pockets and better vaccination ratios are going to be exceptions.