Geneva.- Two United Nations (UN) agencies noted today that while scientists around the world are working to develop a vaccine against the new coronavirus, governments should take every opportunity to protect people from many diseases for which vaccines are already available. The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) and the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a joint statement that the urgent need for a COVID-19 vaccine underscores the central role that immunizations play in protecting lives and economies.
When routine vaccination is lost, the risk of disease outbreaks increases
The statement notes that in 2018, approximately 527,000 children did not have their first dose of measles vaccine in the WHO European region, and then, in 2019, the measles virus exposed vaccination failures in Europe, where more than 100,000 people from all age groups were infected.” Protecting children, adolescents and adults from preventable diseases through vaccination is a duty for the sustainability of health care systems,” the statement states.
The two agencies also urged countries to be prepared to vaccinate those at high risk and to ensure that everyone, including the most marginalized, will have the same access to the COVID-19 vaccine when available.” As we move toward a new future, vaccines will continue to serve as a foundation for everyone’s health and well-being. It is through solidarity, joint action and the tireless commitment to leave no one behind that we can create a healthier future together,” the communiqué says. You may be interested: SEP insists that no school year Will be lostAutorities reinforce measures against coronavirus in San Ignacio
