Vaccine will not end pandemic on its own, or restore old normal: WHO
Geneva, Aug 22: World Health Organisation director general Tedros Ghebreyesus has said that while a vaccine would be a “vital tool” in containing the spread of Covid-19 disease, it would not end the pandemic on its own.
“A vaccine will be a vital tool, and we hope that we will have one as soon as possible. But there is no guarantee that we will, and even if we do have a vaccine, it won’t end the pandemic on its own,” Tedros said a press conference on Friday.
“We must all lean to control and manage this virus using the tools we have now, and to make the adjustments to our daily lives that are needed to keep ourselves and each other safe. So called lockdowns enabled many countries to supress transmission and take the pressure off their health systems. But lockdowns are not a long-term solution for any country,” he said.
Urging governments and people to pay more attention on individual and societal health, Tedros said some things will need to change permanently.
“We do not need to choose between lives and livelihoods, or between health and the economy. That’s a false choice. On the contrary, the pandemic is a reminder that health and economy are inseparable. WHO is committed to working with all countries to move into a new stage of opening their economies, societies, schools and businesses safely. To do that, every single person must be involved, every single person can make a difference. Every person, family, community, and nation must make their own decisions, based on the level of risk where they live,” Tedros said.
“That means every person and family has a responsibility to know the level of transmission locally, and to understand what they can do to protect themselves and others. At the same time, we will not – we cannot – go back to the way things were. Throughout history, outbreaks and pandemics have changed economies and societies. This one will be no different,” he said.
