Thread by @WHO

Media briefing on #COVID19 with @DrTedros pscp.tv/w/cpz7UzI2MTAy…

"Last week I spoke about the importance of testing, which is vital for knowing where the #COVID19 virus is.

But it’s also important to know where the virus has been, and how many people might have been infected without showing symptoms or being diagnosed by testing"-@DrTedros

"To do that, seroprevalence studies are important, which look for antibodies in the blood of individuals, to evaluate the extent of infection in different populations"-@DrTedros #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1335982053523943426?s=20

"Hundreds of seroprevalence studies have been done around the 🌍, which vary in quality, methods & the type of tests used.
Some follow people or populations over ⏲️ to show how an antibody response in the individual, or seroprevalence in populations, changes over time"-@DrTedros

"Despite their limitations, their results are fairly consistent: they tell us that most of the world’s population remains susceptible to infection with the #COVID19 virus"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1335982408026517505?s=20

"We are still learning how strong immune responses are in different populations and for how long this immune response lasts"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"In January, WHO launched the Unity studies, a global effort to standardize seroprevalence studies & the use of serologic tests"-@DrTedros #COVID19

bit.ly/36PHnZc

"So far more than 60 countries, incl. more than 40 low- & middle-income countries, are conducting one or more of these studies using WHO’s protocols.
We are providing technical, financial & operational support & building research capacities for these studies"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"We continue to work with our global networks to better understand the proportion of the world’s population that has been exposed to this virus and how long immunity lasts in people who have been infected"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Seroprevalence studies can help us to understand how long immunity from natural infection lasts, which could also help us to understand how long immunity from vaccination might last"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"As countries plan to roll out #COVID19 vaccines in the coming weeks & months, we urge them to prioritize vaccinating those most in need, based on the Values Framework & Population Prioritization Roadmap issued by WHO’s Strategic Advisory Experts Group on Immunization"-@DrTedros

"These are not easy decisions.

Vaccinating #healthworkers who are at high risk of infection will help to protect them & the health system"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"People at highest risk of serious disease or death as a result of age are also a high priority group because protecting them will reduce severe disease and death and take the burden off health systems"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"As supply increases, the next groups would include those who have higher risk of severe disease because of their underlying conditions, and marginalized groups at higher risk"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #ACTogether

"In the initial stages of rollout, with only a small proportion of a country’s population immunized it’s vital that governments, communities and individuals continue using proven public health tools"-@DrTedros #ACTogether

"Shortly after my election as Director-General in 2017, we analysed WHO’s 💰 situation & saw that the Org. was too reliant on a handful of major donors. In 2018 we announced our plans to establish a Foundation to reduce that reliance by generating 💰 from new sources"-@DrTedros

"In May 2020 I announced the creation of @thewhof, a new independent body to generate resources for the work of WHO from sources we have not accessed before.
Today the Foundation announced the appointment of @_AnilSoni, as its 1st CEO, from the beginning of next year"-@DrTedros

"@_AnilSoni is an experienced global health expert, with experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors. His previous role was at Viatris, a pharmaceutical company, where he was head of global infectious diseases"-@DrTedros

"@_AnilSoni will play a vital role at a vital time, in supporting @thewhof to achieve its goal of raising $1 billion for global health over the next three years"-@DrTedros

"@thewhof will also become a key partner of the #COVID19 Solidarity Response Fund, which has so far raised $238 million from more than 650 thousand individuals, companies and philanthropies"-@DrTedros

"I would like to thank the @unfoundation and the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation for their partnership in the success of the #COVID19 Solidarity Response Fund so far"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1335985770897821702?s=20

The full remarks by @DrTedros 👇 bit.ly/3oxaW88