The Emergency Committee (EC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) released on Friday several recommendations on the emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 the virus that causes COVID-19.
According to the Committee, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
On variants, the EC called for a global expansion of genomic sequencing and sharing of data, along with greater scientific collaboration to address critical unknowns.
It also urged WHO to develop a standardized system for naming new variants that avoids geographical markers, an area the UN body has already begun work on.
On vaccines, the WHO Committee underlined the need for equitable access through the COVAX Facility as well as technology transfer to increase global production capacities.
It strongly encouraged vaccine manufacturers to rapidly provide safety and efficacy data to WHO for emergency use listing. The lack of such data is a barrier to ensuring the timely and equitable supply of vaccines at the global level.
Given that the impact of vaccines in reducing transmission is yet unknown, and the current availability of vaccines is too limited, the Committee recommended that countries do not require proof of vaccination from incoming travelers.
It also advised countries to implement coordinated, evidence-based measures for safe travel and to share with WHO experiences and best practices learned.
To date, more than 93.3 million people have been infected with the coronavirus worldwide, with over 1.9 million fatalities, according to latest data from the Johns Hopkins University.
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