Ignoring WHO Call, Countries Stick To Vaccine Booster Plans

Tedros called for a halt to boosters until at least the end of September, saying it was unacceptable for rich countries to use more of the global vaccine supply

Germany, France, and Israel will go ahead with plans to administer COVID-19 vaccine boosters, disregarding an appeal by the World Health Organisation to hold off until more people are vaccinated around the world.

The decision to press ahead with booster shots despite the WHO’s strongest statement yet highlights the huge inequities in responses to the pandemic as richer nations ramp up programmes to protect citizens from the more infectious Delta variant.

French President Emmanuel Macron said France was working on rolling out third doses to the elderly and vulnerable from September.

Germany intends to give boosters to immunocompromised patients, the very elderly, and nursing home residents from September, the health ministry said.

Israeli Prime Minister Natali Bennet in a statement urged older citizens to get a third shot after the government last month kicked off a campaign to give booster doses.

“Whoever is over the age of 60, and has yet to receive the third dose of the vaccine, is six times more susceptible to severe illness and - heaven forbid - death,” Bennet said.