[D66] ECDC slaat alarm (Wuhan Coronavirus 2019-nCoV #819)

[Dr. Marc-Alexander Fluks]

Bron:   European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
Datum:  24 november 2021
Auteur: Andrea Ammon, (ECDC directeur)
WebTV:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35bOee7Hixg&t=1s
URL:    
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/ecdc-statement-risk-very-high-covid-19-burden-unless-public-health-measures-are-applied


ECDC statement: Risk of very high COVID-19 burden unless public
health measures are applied urgently
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Recent modelling scenarios run by ECDC indicate that the potential 
burden of disease in the EU/EEA from the Delta variant will be very high 
in December and January unless public health measures are applied now in 
combination with continued efforts to increase vaccine uptake in the 
total population.

Since the beginning of the year, we have seen a rapid roll-out of 
vaccination programmes in the EU/EEA that has successfully averted 
deaths and had reduced hospitalisations and transmission. But there are 
still sub-populations and age groups in which coverage remains lower 
than desired, even in countries that have achieved good overall 
vaccination coverage. There are still too many individuals at risk of 
severe COVID-19 infection whom we need to protect as soon as possible. 
We need to urgently focus on closing this immunity gap, offer booster 
doses to all adults, and reintroduce non-pharmaceutical measures.

Currently, less than 70 per cent of the overall population in the EU/EEA 
have been fully vaccinated. This leaves a large vaccination gap that 
cannot be bridged rapidly and gives ample room for the virus to spread.

Because vaccines offer high protection against severe outcomes of 
COVID-19 infection, the forecasts are showing that a large number of new 
COVID-19 hospital admissions will be unvaccinated individuals, in 
particular unvaccinated individuals in risk groups. The current overall 
level of vaccination uptake in the EU/EEA will therefore be insufficient 
to limit the burden of COVID-19 cases and hospitalisations over the 
winter months, and countries with lower levels of vaccination are at 
higher risk.

Increasing COVID-19 vaccination coverage in all eligible age groups, but 
particularly the elderly, the vulnerable, and healthcare workers should 
remain the priority for public health authorities. Europe must close 
immunity gaps in the adult population and ensure effective and equitable 
coverage across countries and regions.

Countries should also consider a booster dose for all adults 18 years 
and older, with a priority for people above 40 years old. This is to 
increase protection against infection due to waning immunity which could 
potentially reduce the transmission in the population and prevent 
additional hospitalisations and deaths. The booster dose is recommended 
six months after completing the primary schedule at the earliest.

Rolling out vaccination programmes takes time and the full effect of 
vaccines only comes two weeks after vaccination. As there is some 
evidence of waning vaccines effectiveness over time against infection 
and transmission, it is also important to maintain or reintroduce 
non-pharmaceutical interventions.

Motivating people to follow these measures is even more important as we 
move towards winter and the festive season when more people will travel 
and gather indoors.

I am aware that it requires a significant effort from public health 
authorities and society at large to achieve this goal. But now is the 
time to walk the extra mile. We have safe and effective vaccines 
available and until a larger part of the eligible population is 
immunised, non-pharmaceutical interventions must continue to remain part 
of our daily routine.

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(c) 2021 ECDC