The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that 'blanket' COVID-19 vaccine booster programmes were 'likely to prolong the pandemic'
"And boosters cannot be seen as a ticket to go ahead with planned celebrations without the need for other precautions."
He said that while some countries rolled out booster programmes, only half of the WHO's member states had been able to reach a target of vaccinating 40% of their populations by the end of the year"because of distortions in global supply". According to the WHO's projections, there should be enough vaccine supply for all adults in the world to be jabbed and those at high risk to receive boosters by the first quarter of next year - but only later in 2022 for the widespread use of boosters.
He added:"Blanket booster programmes are likely to prolong the pandemic rather than ending it, by diverting supply to countries that already have high levels of vaccination coverage, giving the virus more opportunity to spread and mutate.