“Omicron is probably in most countries, even if it hasn’t been detected yet. Omicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant,” Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus told a press conference in Geneva.

He expressed concern over people dismissing omicron as mild, saying that even if it causes less severe disease, the sheer number of cases could once again overwhelm unprepared health systems.

He called on countries to implement measures along with vaccinations to get out of the crisis. “It’s not vaccines instead of masks. It’s not vaccines instead of distancing. It’s not vaccines instead of ventilation or hand hygiene. Do it all. Do it consistently. Do it well,” he said.

In the last 10 weeks, WHO´s Covax mechanism sent more anti-Covid-19 vaccine doses than in the first nine months of the year, Mr. Ghebreyesus noted.

He said some countries have launched booster vaccine campaigns, saying that it could lead to “vaccine hoarding we saw this year and exacerbate inequity.”

“Let me be very clear. WHO is not against boosters. We’re against inequity. Our main concern is save lives, everywhere,” he explained. “Giving boosters to groups at low risk of severe disease or death simply endangers the lives of those at higher risk or still waiting for their primary dose because of supply constraints.”

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