Almost twice as many people have died of the coronavirus worldwide in 2021 as in 2020, when the pandemic began. WHO website says.
According to its data, while 1.8 million people died from coronavirus in 2020, 3.5 million died in 2021, «although the actual number is much higher.»
According to WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Delta and Omicron strains are dual threats that increase the number of cases to record numbers, which again leads to a sharp increase in hospitalizations and deaths.
As for vaccination, 92 states out of 194 have not reached the target of 40 percent. It happens mostly in low-income countries. If they get vaccines, they are almost at the end of their shelf life. In addition, the countries often get vaccines without key components, such as syringes.
Vaccination has not yet begun in three countries — Burundi, Eritrea, and North Korea.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wants 70 percent of the population to be fully vaccinated in all countries by early July 2022. The WHO has pledged to work with member states next year to improve health sector preparedness for such challenges.
