The current pace of global vaccination threatens the emergence of new variants of infection that could be worse than the «omicron» strain of the coronavirus.
The statement came from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres during his speech at the General Assembly on work priorities for 2022, the report said.
«The next choice could be worse. Stopping the spread of infection should be the main topic on the agenda everywhere,» he said.
Guterres stressed the importance of continuing the global vaccination campaign.
«Science has clearly shown that vaccines work and save lives. In October last year, the World Health Organization set a goal of vaccinating 40% of the world’s population by the end of 2021 and 70% by the middle of this year,» he said. — The UN Secretary General added.
According to him, vaccination rates in high-income countries are seven times higher than in Africa. At this pace, progress in Africa will be achieved only until August 2024.
Guterres noted that the world already produces 1.5 billion doses of coronavirus vaccine every month.
