Vaccine inequality 'failing vulnerable people'

GENEVA - The head of the World Health Organisation has said that all health workers and elderly worldwide would have been vaccinated against coronavirus by now if jabs has been distributed equitably.

In an appeal for more doses for poorer countries, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said governments vaccinating low risk groups were doing so at the expense of vulnerable people elsewhere.

He described the unequal distribution as scandalous and said it was perpetuating the pandemic.

Dr Tedros urged more pledges for the UN's vaccine distribution programme Covax.

He said the world should aim to vaccinate at least ten percent of people in every country by September, and 30 percent by the end of the year.

Meanwhile,

Nigerian authorities have declared 90 travellers who recently arrived from Brazil, India and Turkey as "health hazards" after they failed to observe health protocols meant to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

They are wanted after failing to present themselves for Covid-19 tests and evaluation upon arrival, according to the presidential steering committee on Covid-19.

The group includes 63 Nigerians

and 27 foreigners who arrived between May 8 and May 15. They arrived through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

In a statement, the committee said the offenders face possible sanctions, including disabling of their travel passports for one year; cancellation of visas or permits of foreigners and prosecution.

– BBC.