When Ómicron, the fourth variant of the covid, was detected in five continents and 30 affected countries, the G-7 decided to accelerate the donation of doses, a late decision but better than ever.
The pandemic and its increasingly dangerous mutations are essentially the result of the population of Africa and other regions not being sufficiently vaccinated. The inequality in the distribution of vaccines reveals the errors of global management.
80% of the doses have been for the G-20 countries. The pandemic will continue as long as everyone is not vaccinated, because it knows no borders.
Africa, on average, has only vaccinated 3% of its population, which offers high vulnerability. In South Africa, which is where the Omicron variant emerged, vaccination has been of only 24% of the population.
When Ómicron, the fourth variant of the covid, was detected in five continents and 30 affected countries, the G-7 decided to accelerate the donation of doses, a late decision but better than ever.
Specialists estimate that Ómicron is 500 times more contagious than the Delta strain. Consequently 40 nations have closed their airports to flights from South Africa.
Pharmaceuticals are testing to create immunizing antidotes against the new variant. The experts also consider that as a matter of urgency, the first and second doses should be provided to countries that are without protection. If this does not happen, tragic scenarios will reappear where death does not ask for permission.
In Mexico, 70% of the population has been vaccinated with two doses, 13% with a single dose, and the third booster dose will be applied to older adults.
Ómicron has already arrived. Specialists have expressed that it is necessary to reinforce measures to prevent its spread. It is also recognized that this variant spreads very quickly. In Canada, Brazil and the United States it is already present. Likewise, in 21 European countries, which has meant establishing tougher prevention measures by the European Commission, replacing the discretionary that existed.
Due to the predatory nature of the pandemic, there should be no social resistance and even less costly to buy vaccines, even to resort to external financing. The cost that the battle against the pandemic and its new versions can mean is less than the benefit of having a healthy society with the capacity to work. It is investment in human capital.
With the pandemic, economic deterioration occurs, companies close, unemployment increases, despair accumulates, the family economy collapses. Everything turns gray in the face of uncertainty.
The fight against this and other pandemics collides in a vacuum due to the lack of minimally equipped health systems in many countries and the ignorance and superstitions of a large part of its inhabitants. Hence, it is not only a public health problem but one of education and information.
Economist
Economy and Society
Writer and graduate in economics, graduated from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. From 1984 to 1990 he was the Mexican ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark, where he was awarded the Dannebrog order.
Reference-www.eleconomista.com.mx