As long as Europe remains the epicenter of the pandemic again, no country is out of danger. It is the warning launched by the World Health Organization (WHO), which adds to the warning of the European health authorities: Christmas is in danger if no action is taken to stop the contagion.
In our continent they are now concentrated two thirds of current cases, something that the WHO believes may be due to “false sense of security“which has produced the vaccination.
“Many think that vaccines have already ended the pandemic, and that those vaccinated no longer have to take precautions,” lamented the director general of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who warned that the European health networks come under intense pressure again.
The figures are especially worrying considering that Christmas is just around the corner. For this reason, from the WHO they have insisted to the vaccinated that they must wear a mask, maintain social distance and avoid “crowds”. Also, if possible, recommend that gatherings and celebrations take place in well-ventilated places.
In Spain, regarding Christmas, at the moment Health has only focused on vaccination, despite the fact that there are communities that ask to make the COVID-19 passport effective to enter certain establishments and entertainment venues. Carolina Darias, head of Health, has hoped that the millions of people who belong to the highest risk groups will be vaccinated with a booster dose “if possible before the Christmas holidays begin.”
Vaccines “save lives” but do not completely prevent contagion
In this sense, Tedros has insisted that vaccines “save lives, but do not completely prevent transmission“, especially since the delta variant predominates in the world, more contagious than the previous ones.
What vaccines do achieve, as WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan has clarified, is protection against developing a serious disease (80%), even with the delta variant.
“If you are vaccinated there is a lower risk of contracting serious forms of the disease or to die, but there is still a risk of becoming infected or infecting others “, has summarized in this regard the head of the WHO.
European health authorities ask for more restrictions
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has warned of a “very high risk” for covid in the coming weeks and it has advised to administer the booster vaccine to all adults and, as a priority, to those over 40 years of age.
At the moment less than 70% of the general population of the European Union has received the complete guideline, which leaves a lot of room for the virus to spread, according to the ECDC.
Given the winter in Europe, the Center has warned that there will be a greater number of hospital admissions of unvaccinated people, in particular of risk groups, so the current vaccination rate “will be insufficient” to avoid overloading health systems.
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
