World Health Organization (WHO) Profile picture
Dec 22, 2021 34 tweets 19 min read Read on X
"The end of a year is always an opportunity to look back, and to look forward.
As we look back, 2021 gave us many reasons to hope. Science delivered that hope, in the form of vaccines, which have undoubtedly saved many lives this year."-@DrTedros
@DrTedros "On the other hand, there is no doubt that the inequitable sharing of those vaccines has cost many lives.
2021 was a year in which we lost 3.5 million people to #COVID19 – more deaths than from HIV, malaria and tuberculosis combined in 2020."-@DrTedros
"And still, COVID-19 continues to claim around 50 thousand lives every week."-@DrTedros
"As Omicron becomes the dominant [#COVID19] variant in many countries, all of us need to take extra precautions."-@DrTedros Image
"Today, WHO is issuing updated guidance for health workers, recommending the use of either a respirator or a medical mask, in addition to other personal protective equipment, when entering a room where there is a patient with suspected or confirmed #COVID19."-@DrTedros
"Respirators, which includes masks known as N95, FFP2 and others, should especially be worn in care settings where ventilation is known to be poor."-@DrTedros
"However, we are painfully aware that many health workers around the world are unable to access respirators."-@DrTedros
"We therefore ask manufacturers and countries to scale up the production, procurement and distribution of both respirators and medical masks for use in health and care settings."-@DrTedros
"It’s essential that all health workers have all the tools they need to do their jobs – the training, the PPE, the safe work environment, and the vaccines."-@DrTedros
"It’s frankly difficult to understand how a year since the first vaccines were administered, 3 in 4 health workers in Africa remain unvaccinated."-@DrTedros
"While some countries are now rolling out blanket booster programmes, only half of WHO’s Member States have been able to reach the target of vaccinating 40% of their populations by the end of the year, because of distortions in global supply."-@DrTedros
"Enough [#COVID19] vaccines were administered globally this year that the 40% target could have been reached in every country by September, if those vaccines had been distributed equitably, through #COVAX and AVAT."-@DrTedros
"We’re encouraged that supply is improving.
Today, #COVAX shipped its 800 millionth vaccine dose. Half of those doses have been shipped in the past three months."-@DrTedros
"Our projections show that supply should be sufficient to vaccinate the entire global adult population, and to give boosters to high-risk populations, by the first quarter of 2022."-@DrTedros
"However, only later in 2022 will supply be sufficient for extensive use of [#COVID19 vaccine] boosters in all adults."-@DrTedros
"So I call once again on countries and manufacturers to prioritize #COVAX and AVAT, and to work together to support those who are furthest behind."-@DrTedros
"Today, the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, or SAGE, is issuing an interim statement on [#COVID19 vaccine] booster doses."-@DrTedros

▶️ bit.ly/3pkOToe
"SAGE concluded that the focus of immunization must remain on decreasing death & severe disease, and expressed concern that blanket booster programmes will exacerbate vaccine inequity."-@DrTedros
"About 20% of all vaccine doses administered every day are currently being given as boosters or additional doses."-@DrTedros
"Blanket booster programmes are likely to prolong the [#COVID19] pandemic, rather than ending it, by diverting supply to countries that already have high levels of vaccination coverage, giving the virus more opportunity to spread and mutate."-@DrTedros
"It’s important to remember that the vast majority of hospitalizations & deaths are in unvaccinated people, not un-boosted people.
And we must be very clear that the [#COVID19] vaccines we have remain effective against both the Delta & Omicron variants."-@DrTedros
"The global priority must be to support all countries to reach the 40% target as quickly as possible, and the 70% target by the middle of this year."-@DrTedros
"No country can boost its way out of the [#COVID19] pandemic.
And boosters cannot be seen as a ticket to go ahead with planned celebrations, without the need for other precautions."-@DrTedros
"Even as we work to make the best use of the [#COVID19] vaccines we have, WHO is also working to identify the next generation of vaccines through the Solidarity Trial Vaccines."-@DrTedros
"The Solidarity Trial Vaccines is co-sponsored by WHO and the Ministries of Health of Colombia, Mali and Philippines, and aims to accelerate the evaluation of more #COVID19 vaccines, to expand the portfolio and improve access."-@DrTedros
"It is also intended to uncover second-generation [#COVID19] vaccines with greater protection against variants of concern, with longer duration of protection, or to assess vaccines that can be given without needles."-@DrTedros
"The [#COVID19] vaccines in the trial were selected by an independent advisory group of leading scientists and experts."-@DrTedros
"Research teams in Colombia, Mali & Philippines began recruiting volunteers in late September, and so far, over 11,500 people are participating in the trial.
So far, the trial incl. two vaccines, three others will be included shortly & more can be included."-@DrTedros
"WHO invites all countries and research centres to participate in this trial."-@DrTedros
"2021 has been a painful year for many of us. But we cannot allow it to be a wasted year.
As we approach a new year, we must all learn the painful lessons this year taught us."-@DrTedros
"2022 must be the end of the #COVID19 pandemic.
But it must also be the beginning of something else – a new era of solidarity."-@DrTedros
"We must leave 2021 behind with sorrow, and look forward to 2022 in hope.
On that note, I would like to wish all who celebrate it a very #MerryChristmas."-@DrTedros
Full speech of @DrTedros' opening remarks at the media briefing on #COVID19 - 22.12.2021
bit.ly/3Fo8r0v

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More from @WHO

Nov 10, 2023
LIVE: @DrTedros' briefing on the health situation in #Gaza to the @UN Security Council twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…
"Let me be clear from the outset that I fully understand the anger, grief and fear of the Israeli people following the horrific, barbaric and unjustifiable attacks by Hamas and other armed groups on Israeli civilians on the 7th of October.

The killing of 1,400 people, and injuries to more than 7,200 others, is bad enough. For the survivors and families of victims, the mental health consequences will endure for a long time to come.

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The situation on the ground, in Gaza, is indescribable.

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#DYK: Nearly 40% of pharmaceutical products have a natural product base, incl.:
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https://t.co/hqqn1D2idWbit.ly/47s1wlj
After testing – unsuccessfully -- over 240 000 compounds for use in antimalarials, Chinese scientist Tu Youyou, head of the Project 523 to discover a cure for chloroquine-resistant malaria, turned to traditional Chinese medical literature for clues.  There, she and her team found a reference to sweet wormwood to treat intermittent fevers. In 1971, Tu Youyou’s team isolated artemisinin, an active compound in sweet wormwood that was particularly effective in treating malaria. Artemisinin is now recommended by the World Health Organization as the first and second line of treatment for malaria....
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Norethindrone, derived from the wild Mexican yam, is one of the first active ingredients in contraceptive pills.
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Jun 11, 2023
Comprehensive sexuality education delivers positive health outcomes for life.

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Studies worldwide have shown that it protects the health of young people. It also helps… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
FACT: Comprehensive sexuality education is associated with later sexual activity and reduced risk-taking.

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FACT: Talking about sexuality does not necessarily mean talking about having sex.

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#ClimateCrisis harms our health 🔗bit.ly/3FLOJiu
🌡 🥵 Rising temperatures increase the risk of extreme heat. Above 4⃣0⃣ degrees, heat stroke might happen, causing organ failure, hospitalization & even death.

#ClimateCrisis harms our health.
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#ClimateCrisis harms our health.
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Every year, exposure to #AirPollution causes 7 million premature deaths.

From forest fires to smog hanging over cities and smoke inside the home, the #ClimateEmergency threatens our health and our planet.

📌 bit.ly/3FLOJiu Factoid stating that "...
In children 🧒🏽 👶🏻 👧🏾, exposure to #AirPollution can cause:
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In adults, ischaemic heart disease and stroke are the most common causes of premature death attributable to outdoor #AirPollution. Other effects include #diabetes and neurodegenerative conditions.

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