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The World Health Organization warned that by December 1st, 236,000 people in Europe may die from COVID-19, which is a wake-up call to the rising number of infections and stagnant vaccination rates on the European continent.
Countries in the region have seen an increase in infection rates because they are highly contagious Delta variants dominate, Especially in people who have not been vaccinated.
Poorer countries, especially those in the Balkans, the Caucasus and Central Asia, have been hit hardest and the number of deaths has increased.
“Last week, the number of deaths in the region increased by 11%-a reliable prediction is that by December 1st, there will be 236,000 deaths in Europe,” said Hans Kruger, WHO’s European Director, on Monday.
To date, Europe has registered approximately 1.3 million COVID-19 deaths and 64 million confirmed cases. Kruger said that of the 53 member states of WHO in Europe, 33 member states had an incidence rate of more than 10% in the past two weeks. Most are in poorer countries.
The high transmission rate across the African continent is “deeply worrying, especially considering the low vaccination rates of key populations in some countries.”
Kruger says Delta variant Part of the blame is the “over relaxation” of restrictions and measures and the surge in summer travel.
Although about half of the people in the WHO European region have been fully vaccinated, the vaccination rate in the region has slowed.
Kluge said: “In the past six weeks, due to the lack of access to vaccines in some countries and the lack of vaccine acceptance in other countries, it has dropped by 14%. Access rights.”
In low-income and low-middle-income countries in Europe, only 6% of people are fully vaccinated, while some countries have successfully vaccinated only one in ten health professionals.
Kruger emphasized that as many places are relaxing public health and social measures, “public acceptance of vaccination is of the utmost importance.”
“Vaccine suspicion and scientific denial have prevented us from stabilizing this crisis. It has no meaning and is not good for anyone.”
“Catastrophic” destruction of education
Earlier Monday, WHO and UNICEF urged European countries to make teachers a priority group for vaccination so that schools can remain open throughout the pandemic.
As schools reopened after the summer vacation, agencies stated that despite the spread of Delta variants, “it is vital that classroom learning continues to be uninterrupted.”
“This is essential for children’s education, mental health and social skills, and for schools to help our children become happy and productive members of society,” Kruger said.
He added: “The pandemic has caused the most catastrophic damage in history.”
These agencies urge countries to vaccinate children over 12 years of age whose underlying diseases put them at greater risk of severe COVID-19.
They also reviewed the importance of measures to improve the school environment during the pandemic, including improving ventilation, reducing class sizes, maintaining social distancing, and conducting regular COVID testing for children and staff.
At the same time, Kruger said that the third dose of enhanced COVID-19 vaccination is a way to keep the most vulnerable people safe, not “a luxury.”
The WHO said earlier this month that the data does not indicate the need for booster injections, and supplementing people who have been fully vaccinated will further widen the vaccine supply gap between rich and low-income countries.
“The third dose of vaccine is not a luxury booster [that is] Take it away from the person who is still waiting for the first jab. This is basically a way to protect the most vulnerable groups,” Kruger said.
“We have to be careful with boosters because there is not enough evidence yet,” he said.
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