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 The WHO said earlier this month data did not indicate a need for
booster shots, while topping up already fully vaccinated people
would further widen a vaccine-availability gap between rich and
lower-income countries.
"A third dose of vaccine is not a luxury booster (that is) taken
away from someone who is still waiting for a first jab. It's
basically a way to keep the most vulnerable safe," Hans Kluge, head
of WHO Europe, told a press briefing.
"We have to be a little bit careful with the booster shot, because
there is not yet enough evidence," he said.
"But more and more studies show that a third dose keeps vulnerable
people safe, and this is done by more and more countries in our
region," he said.
[to top of second column] |
 Kluge urged European countries
with excess vaccines to share them with other
countries, particularly those in Eastern Europe
and Africa.
An increase in COVID-19 transmission rates
across Europe over the last two weeks, combined
with low levels of vaccination in some
countries, was "deeply worrying", he said.
(Reporting by Nikolaj Skydsgaard and Jacob
Gronholt-Pedersen;Editing by Nick Macfie and
Bernadette Baum)
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