The head of the World Health Organization Tedros Ghebreyesus said the UN health agency will not recommend any COVID-19 vaccine before it is proved safe and effective. At a press briefing, he said vaccines have been used successfully for decades and credited them with eradicating smallpox and bringing polio to the brink of being eliminated.
 
“I would like to assure the public that WHO will not endorse a vaccine that’s not effective and safe,” Tedros said. He said newly developed Ebola vaccines helped end the recent Ebola outbreak in Congo. He appealed to people opposed to vaccination to do their own research. Appealing to parents in particular he said they can have a look for themselves on how the world actually used vaccines to reduce under-5 mortality to save children.
 
He also said Vaccine nationalism will prolong the problem, not shorten it. The first priority must be to vaccinate some people in all countries, rather than all people in some countries.  We want all people everywhere to have access to vaccines. But initially, when supply is limited, priority must be given to vaccinating essential workers and those most at risk, including older people and those with underlying conditions, he added.