Vaccine not a “magic solution” to COVID-19

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) warned on Wednesday that Covid-19 will continue to spread even with a vaccine and urged countries to prepare to immunize the population without lowering their guard with the measures taken so far to curb infections.

Carissa Etienne, director of PAHO, regional office of the World Health Organization (WHO), said that beyond scientists discovering an “effective” and “durable solution” vaccine against Covid-19, countries must “Be realistic” about its immediate scope.

“This virus will continue to spread and people will continue to get sick, even when a vaccine is distributed,” she said at a press conference.

“Therefore, we cannot put all our hope in vaccines alone. As it happens very often in public health, there are no magic solutions ”, she stressed.

Etienne called for continued reliance on the guidelines imposed to minimize the spread of the virus: diagnostic tests, contact tracing and quarantines, as well as physical distancing, frequent hand washing and the use of masks in public.

“I urge countries around the world to prepare for a coronavirus vaccine, but also to be realistic, knowing that these preparations do not replace everything else we must do to save lives today,” she stressed.