Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Dr. Takeshi Kasai said the new coronavirus vaccines would not end the pandemic in the short term and that there could be a vaccination problem. According to the WHO official, the beginning of mass vaccination in the Western Pacific countries may begin in mid-2021.
"Vaccination is not a silver bullet that will end the pandemic in the near future. Some countries will have difficulty getting vaccinated. For this reason, preference should be given to those at risk. If we can invest in the production of vaccines in the required scale, by the end of 2021 we can have enough vaccines to vaccinate priority groups in all countries. For those outside of risk groups, this process can take 12-24 months. Even then, uncertainties and unforeseen circumstances may arise.
Therefore, even if we are tired now, we must continue to take measures to protect not only ourselves but also those around us, wash our hands, wear masks, adapt to social distances and avoid places where there is a high risk of pollution, "said the WHO official. Recall that the WHO considers the age group over 60 years and health workers struggling with COVID-19 as a "risk" group and recommends that these groups be given preference for vaccination.