The World Health
Organization (WHO) has called upon countries to delay rollout of booster shots
as several countries across the world battle shortages of COVID-19 vaccines.
The global health agency said that nations should wait at least till the end of
the year before rolling out booster doses.

WHO chief Tedros
Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “I will not stay silent when the companies and countries
that control the global supply of vaccines think the world’s poor should be
satisfied with leftovers.” The WHO chief was speaking from the health agency’s
Geneva headquarters.

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Speaking to the
media, Ghebreyesus urged wealthy countries and vaccine manufacturers to prioritise
getting COVID-19 vaccines to health workers and vulnerable populations in
poorer countries over boosters. “We do not want to see widespread use of boosters
for healthy people who are fully vaccinated,” he said.

WHO says that while
an additional dose could be necessary for people who have compromised immune
systems, but the health agency has stressed that for healthy people, the existing
vaccines seem very effective, especially in preventing severe disease.

“There is no
compelling case to move forward with a generalised recommendation for booster
shots,” said WHO’s vaccine chief Kate O’Brien.

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Last month, the
WHO called for a moratorium on COVID-19 booster shots until September in a bid
to address vaccine inequalities. Meanwhile, several countries have either began
rolling out booster shots or are planning to.

The WHO chief
acknowledged that vaccine distribution among nations has not improved since the
health agency’s moratorium call and said, “So today I am calling for an
extension of the moratorium at least until the end of the year”.

The World Health
Organization has set a global target to ensure every country vaccinates at
least 10% of its population by the end of September and at least 40% by the end
of the year.