KATHMANDU, Dec 18: It may take more than a year to get COVID-19 vaccines in the Asia Pacific Region, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

 “There are very few possibilities to get vaccines in this region immediately. It can take over a year.”

Dr Takeshi Kasai, regional director of WHO in a press meet in Jakarta, Indonesia said that there was no possibility of getting COVID-19 vaccines to the Asia Pacific Region immediately. “It may take more than a year,” he added.

The vaccines developed against the novel coronavirus in some of the developed nations are still in testing phase. Their effectiveness against COVID-19 is still a controversy.

Most of the countries in this region have been unable to make deals and agreements in procuring COVID-19 vaccines. They are likely to get access to vaccination in mid or late 2021, according to Dr Kasai.

Health experts have argued that the ongoing pandemic won’t stop just by vaccinating against it. 

( With inputs Agencies)

 
• COVID-19
 
• WHO
 
• vaccination
 
• Asia_Pacific_Region