In Geneva, a WHO spokesman confirmed during a scheduled press conference that Chinese scientists had been invited to attend a Technical Advisory Group meeting COVID-19 (SIGN).
The 30-strong expert group was formed in June 2020 to advise the UN health agency and member states on coronavirus mutations and variants. The last meeting of the group took place in October.
In an earlier one expression, WHO said Chinese scientists have been invited to present detailed virus sequencing data to the expert meeting WHO Head office in Geneva.
Not letting faith decide over anything
The development follows a “high-level” meeting between the WHO and Chinese health officials last Friday, who were asked to share more information on China’s COVID-19 strategy.
“Senior officials from the National Health Commission of China and the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration briefed the WHO on China’s evolving strategy and measures in the fields of epidemiology, variant surveillance, vaccination, clinical care, communication and research and development,” the WHO said.
share appeal
In particular, the UN agency urged Chinese authorities to strengthen virus sequencing, clinical management and impact assessment of their COVID surge.
“The WHO again called for the regular exchange of specific real-time data on the epidemiological situation‘, it noted, ‘including other genetic sequencing data, disease impact data including hospitalizations, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and deaths – and data on vaccinations administered and vaccination status, especially in vulnerable people and people over 60 years of age.”
value of boosters
In addition to offering the UN health agency’s support in these areas, the WHO statement reiterated the importance of vaccination and booster shots “to protect against serious illness and death for those at higher risk”.
The organization too offered to counteract vaccination hesitation in China, where a shift from long-standing “zero-COVID” policies has been reported.
Tedros emphasizes “importance of transparency”
In a tweet Last Friday evening, the director-general of the UN agency said, Tedros Adhanom GhebreyesusHe said his team “reaffirmed the importance of transparency, and Regular exchange of data to formulate accurate risk assessments and take effective action.”
In addition to supporting the UN health agency in these areas, the WHO also offered to address vaccine hesitancy in China, which has reportedly seen a move away from long-standing “COVID zero” policies.
