The European Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakides, welcomed this Friday the announcement of the World Health Organization (WHO) on the “new phase” of the Covid-19 pandemic, stressing the importance of “not losing sight” of the need to “continue” with vaccination, “mainly in the most vulnerable countries”.
“We are entering a new phase, after more than three years. Obviously, with the WHO announcement, it is important not to lose sight of where we are at,” said Kyriakides, recalling that the WHO director “continues to warn that Covid -19 is still with us and that it is crucial that countries maintain vaccination efforts, especially for the most vulnerable”.
The commissioner also stressed the importance of countries being prepared for future health threats, “by maintaining adequate countermeasures and health systems.”
“I think this is a step forward and a new phase that we are entering after 38 months,” Commissioner Stella Kyriakides concluded, speaking in Stockholm at the end of an informal council of health ministers.
The WHO announced, this Friday, the end of the health emergency due to the pandemic, however, it emphasized that Covid-19 is still present and that it is essential “not to let our guard down” and continue with vaccination efforts, adopting measures to guarantee the safety and health of all.
At the end of the meeting in Stockholm, the Health Commissioner also called on Member States to continue working together to ensure that health systems are prepared to deal with possible future threats.
Source: TSF
