The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) is once again calling for wealthy countries to postpone the rollout of COVID-19 vaccine boosters.
Instead, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press briefing on Tuesday that richer nations should distribute extra doses to low-income countries facing vaccine shortages, especially those i Africa.
It is the third time Tedros has spoken against vaccine booster shots being distributed by wealthy nations, calling for a pause on distribution of the third shots through the end of September and then through the end of the year.
In Africa, just 3.7 percent of people are fully vaccinated against the virus because many poorer nations on the continent do not have enough doses or the infrastructure necessary to put together a massive operation the way many wealthier nations have.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (pictured), Director-General of the World Health Organization, is calling for developed nations to halt the roll out of COVID-19 vaccine boosters
African countries have fallen way behind the global vaccine pace. Chad is among the worst, with less than half-of-a-percent of residents having received at least one shot of a vaccine. Less than 6% of Africans have gotten at least one shot overall
'There are countries with less than two percent vaccination coverage, most of them in Africa, who are not even getting their first and second dose' Tedros said.
'And starting with boosters, especially giving it to healthy populations, is really not right.'
Africa has fallen way behind in the global vaccine roll out.
Less than six percent of Africans have received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine and less than four percent are fully vaccinated.
Worldwide, 42 percent of people have received at least one shot, and 30 percent are fully vaccinated.
The gap between Africa and many western developed nations is even larger, with 71
