WHO Director-General Tedros Blasts “Greedy” Drugmakers for Lobbying Rich Countries to Use Even More COVID19 Vaccines
On Monday, The World Health Organization’s director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, issued a stinging criticism to vaccine manufacturers focused on developing and selling Covid-19 vaccine booster shots to high-income countries.
According to Tedros, instead of lobbying rich countries to use even more doses, drugmakers should focus on providing COVID-19 vaccines to nations with limited access to first doses.
“We’re making conscious choices right now not to protect those in most need,” said Tedros in Geneva.
The general directors’ statement came four days after Pfizer announced that it possesses data to back up its claim that to maintain high levels of protection, a third dose of its vaccine may be needed within six to 12 months after full vaccination.
However, WHO officials rebuffed the drugmakers claims, and said they have seen no evidence to date supporting the notion that fully vaccinated individuals will require additional doses so soon.
