The "interim results of several candidate (COVID-19) vaccines (are) game-changing," Dr. Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization's (WHO) regional director for Europe, said at a press briefing here on Thursday.
"The promise of a vaccine is great, but its full potential will not be realized without strong preparedness and community acceptance," he said during his update on the pandemic and the national preparations for COVID-19 vaccine deployment.
Acknowledging that vaccine supply is expected to be "very limited in the initial stage," Kluge stressed the need for all countries to decide "who should be vaccinated first to maximize the impact of limited doses in reducing the burden of disease in each country context."
"Our recommendations are that health and social care workers, adults over 60 years of age and residents and staff of long-term care facilities should be prioritized for access to COVID-19 vaccines in the context of limited supply."
As Western governments find themselves combating not only COVID-19 but the increasingly vexing question of community acceptance and demand for a vaccine, which Kluge described as "pivotal to the success of any vaccination plan," the regional director highlighted behavioral insight surveys conducted in several European countries in recent months, which found that up to half of people in some countries were unsure about vaccination against COVID-19.
"It's not unusual to be concerned about vaccination. It's understandable. But I urge you to seek reliable information from trustworthy sources. Don't be part of a misinformation infodemic (overload of information). Vaccination saves lives, fear endangers them."
Kluge also warned that vaccines alone were not a panacea to the coronavirus.
"Vaccines combined with other public health measures bring the end of an acute phase of the pandemic and the rebuilding of economies within reach. But this is only possible if we ensure that no-one is left behind and all countries and communities can reap the benefits of access to this life-saving technology."
Furthermore, "we need to have plans in place," Kluge said. "Taking immediate stock of the status of our preparedness now, in advance of the arrival of vaccines, is absolutely essential."
As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, countries including Germany, China, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States are racing to find a vaccine.
According to the website of WHO, as of Nov. 26, there were 213 COVID-19 candidate vaccines being developed worldwide, and 49 of them were in clinical trials.
Recalling the progress made in many parts of Europe over the last number of weeks through measures to reduce transmission, Kluge cautioned those individuals or authorities that might consider slackening their efforts as the early promises of a vaccine beckoned.
"Let us also be clear, the vaccine is not here today, not everyone will receive it when it arrives, therefore it's imperative that we continue to practice basic protective behaviors (such as mask-wearing)."
The" phenomenal" news in vaccine development could not come at a better time in Europe, for despite a 13 percent decrease in the number of new infections throughout the region last week, Kluge still had to report that November alone saw over four million COVID-19 cases out of a total of 19 million registered in the region since the start of the pandemic.
"Whilst we are seeing a slight decrease in the number of cases in western Europe, this does not mean the entire WHO European Region faces an improvement in the epidemiological situation. The resurgence is moving eastward with the hardest hit countries now in central and southern Europe," Klug noted.
