WHO chief wrongly questions efficacy of Covid vaccines

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned the world that the efficacy and safety of the coronavirus vaccines which are currently in advanced stages of development cannot be assured. But India and other countries should go ahead and ignore the WHO’s statements.

As the coronavirus pandemic hit the world, the role of the WHO has repeatedly come under the scanner. It has not only contradicted its own statements leading to mass-scale confusion, but also failed to warn people on time and thereafter refused accountability. And now as the world expectantly awaits a coronavirus vaccine by the year-end, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned people across the globe, saying that there was no guarantee on the efficacy and safety.

Over 23,613,878 coronavirus cases have been reported the world across. The flu that originated in China has claimed 812,999 deaths so far.

While Russia has already registered the first vaccine, India, US, UK, China, Israel, and Italy are among the countries that are close to developing one.

“One of our Covid-19 vaccine candidates is in the third phase of the clinical trial. We are very confident that a vaccine will be developed by end of this year,” Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said yesterday.

“Soon there will be a time when people will stop relying on what WHO says. Its handling of the pandemic has been despicable,” a senior doctor requesting anonymity said.

The Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) said that the world must come together in supporting countries including India that are currently developing a coronavirus vaccine.

“India is doing well on the vaccine front. It is not fair to comment on the time frame of developing the vaccine. It is well known that development of a vaccine takes over five years, but in this case, do we have the luxury of time? We don’t. So in the given circumstances, the world must stand united in any effort that goes in developing a vaccine,” Ashwani Mahajan, national co-convener, SJM said.

Insiders who have been tracking the development in India said that the development of the vaccine is progressing as per plan. “It is something to be proud of despite the naysayers and the regular scrutiny from all corners,” an insider said, adding that earlier a vaccine that was being developed by Oxford University had failed the initial test, yet it was allowed to go ahead with development and Phase 2 human trials.

“The idea is to be supportive and give hope to the world, and not create panic and confusion,” the doctor said..