The emergence of the omicron variant of the coronavirus is the final proof of the danger of having different vaccination rates around the world, the Red Cross believes.
“The scientific community has warned the international community several times about the risk of brand new varieties emerging in places where vaccination rates are very low,” Francesco Rocca, president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), said.
Around 65% of the inhabitants of high-income countries have received at least one vaccine dose. Just over 7% of the inhabitants of developing countries have received at least one dose, figures from the UN show.
Western countries have been accused of stockpiling vaccines. The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged them to avoid administering the third vaccine dose at a time when millions of people around the world have not yet received their first dose.
“This is a selfish approach from the West. This is a blind approach. It’s amazing that we still do not realize how closely we’re connected to each other. That is why I call the omicron variant the final proof,” Rocca said.
Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews
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