The World Health Organization, also known as ‘WHO’ said Friday that a vaccine will be a “vital tool” in the global fight against the coronavirus. But it won’t end the Covid-19 pandemic on its own and there are no guarantee scientists will find one.
World leaders and the public must learn to manage the virus and make permanent adjustments to their daily lives to bring the virus down to low levels, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a news conference from the agency’s Geneva headquarters. “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, he said.
“In particular, the Covid-19 pandemic has given new impetus to the need to accelerate efforts to respond to climate change,” he said. “The Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has given us a glimpse of our world as it could be: cleaner skies and rivers.”
Effect by Coronavirus and Vaccine trails
The virus has infected more than 22.7 million people worldwide and killed at least 794,100 in more than seven months, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. There are at least 30 potential vaccines currently in clinical trials, according to the WHO. But there is no guarantee they will be safe and effective, he said.
Even though human trials for potential vaccines are progressing, scientists say key questions remain. Coronavirus (Covid-19) was discovered in December. While numerous research papers and studies have been produced on the virus. Scientists still do not fully understand how it affects the body. How well someone can keep safe from reinfection after recovering.
Earlier this month, Tedros said there was no “silver bullet” to the coronavirus and “there might never be.”
He said world leaders can stop new outbreaks by practicing the “basics” of public health and disease control. “Testing, isolating, and treating patients and tracing and quarantining their contacts. Do it all. Inform, empower, and listen to communities. Do it all,” he said Aug. 3.
Tedros said Friday that “every single person” can make a difference in the pandemic.
“Every person and family has a responsibility to know the level of Coronavirus Covid-19 transmission locally and to understand what they can do to protect themselves and others,” he said.
