"Rich Countries May Start Hoarding Vaccines Again" – WHO Warns

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that wealthy countries may start hoarding COVID-19 vaccines again, threatening global supplies as they seek to keep up stocks to fight the new Omicron coronavirus variant.

The comments were made Thursday, December 10, 2021 by the agency’s vaccine director, Kate O’Brien.

The WHO and vaccine charity, GAVI run an international dose-sharing programme with rich countries but with the new variant, supplies to poor nations could reduce.

“We have to make sure that it [higher shipments] continues.

“As we head into whatever the Omicron situation is going to be, there is risk that the global supply is again going to revert to high-income countries hoarding vaccines” as they seek to protect their ability to inoculate their citizens,” O’Brien said.

Meanwhile, the WHO’s vaccine advisory panel recommends that people who are immunocompromised or received an inactivated vaccine should receive a booster dose of a Covid-19 shot, the head of the panel said on Thursday.

The recommendation comes after the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on immunisation held a meeting on Tuesday to evaluate the need for Covid-19 boosters.

Separately, the EU medicines watchdog said on Thursday the Omicron variant of coronavirus may cause milder disease.

Also, European Union countries are expected to agree to limit to nine months the duration of Covid-19 certificates for travel around the block.