Vaccines will not keep people safe; basic health measures remain ‘foundation’ of response – WHO

Vaccines will not keep people safe; basic health measures remain ‘foundation’ of response – WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged all governments and individuals that vaccines alone will not keep them 'safe' and that basic public health measures remain the basis of the response.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said: “Vaccines will help to save lives, but if countries rely solely on vaccines, they're making a mistake. Basic public health measures remain the foundation of the response.“

For public health authorities, that means testing, contact tracing, isolation, supported quarantine and quality care, while for individuals, it means avoiding crowds, physical distancing, hand hygiene, masks and ventilation.

“This is a global crisis that requires a consistent and coordinated global response,“ he added.

In the past week, he noted, the number of reported cases of Covid-19 increased for the first time in 7 weeks. “Reported cases increased in four of WHO's six regions: the Americas, Europe, South East Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean - so we don't report increases in Africa and the Western Pacific.

“We're working to better understand these increases in transmission. Some of it appears to be due to relaxing of public health measures, continued circulation of variants, and people letting down their guard,“ he added.

Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire started vaccinating health workers against Covid-19, becoming