The World Health Organisation chief said on December 4 that he would be happy to have a coronavirus vaccine to help promote public confidence to help public confidence.
Several prominent leaders took the initiative to get an approved vaccine on camera. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed news that US president- elect Joe Biden, and former presidents Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton have said they will volunteer to get an approved vaccine on camera.
“It’s a good idea… I think it’s very good that they already have shown their commitment. They can influence,” he told reporters.
“They are influencers.”
Asked if he would do the likewise, Tedros said: “I would be happy to do the same thing. I would be happy to do it.”
He stressed though that he would not want to jump the line and receive a jab needed by someone else, underlining the WHO’s call for vaccines to be distributed equitably.
“I need to make sure it’s my turn. I don’t want to take anybody’s vaccine,” he said.
Meanwhile the WHO Director General warned governments and citizens not to drop their guard over the COVID pandemic now a vaccination was close.
Britain approved Pfizer Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine on December 2, raising hopes that the tide could soon turn against a virus that has killed nearly 1.5 million people globally, hammered the world economy and turned over normal life for billions.
“Progress on vaccines gives us all a lift and we can now start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. However, WHO is concerned that there is a growing perception that the COVID-19 pandemic is over,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a Geneva news conference.
Tedros said the pandemic still had a long way to run and that decisions made by citizens and governments would determine its course in the short run and when the pandemic would ultimately end.
