World Health Organization (WHO) / Press Release

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) | Nov 28, 2025

Measles deaths down 88% since 2000, but cases surge

To achieve measles elimination, strong political commitment and sustained investment is needed to ensure all children receive two doses of the measles vaccine and surveillance systems can rapidly detect outbreaks

Global immunization efforts have led to an 88% drop in measles deaths between 2000 and 2024, according to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO). Nearly 59 million lives have been saved by the measles vaccine since 2000. However, an estimated 95 000 people, mostly children younger than 5 years of…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) | Jan 26, 2023

Africa emerges from holiday travel season with low number of COVID-19 cases

COVID-19 vaccination remains critical in protecting against severe illness and death, as the virus remains in circulation and continues to mutate

Africa is emerging from the New Year travel season without a significant upsurge in COVID-19 for the first time since the start of the pandemic. A total of 20 552 new cases were recorded in the first three weeks of January 2023, a 97% slump compared with the same period…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) | Oct 19, 2022

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General's opening remarks at media briefing – 19 October 2022

While the global situation has obviously improved since the pandemic began, the virus continues to change, and there remain many risks and uncertainties

Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening. Last night I returned from the World Health Summit in Berlin, Germany, which this year WHO co-hosted for the first time. I was very encouraged to see the level of commitment from leaders from government, civil society, academia and the private sector for…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) | Feb 18, 2022

WHO Director-General's opening remarks at announcement “spokes” of mRNA technology transfer hub – 18 February 2022

The aim of the hub is to provide a facility where manufacturers from low- and lower-middle income countries can receive training in how to produce certain vaccines, and the licenses to do so

Your Excellency President Macron, Excellency President Macky Sall, Excellency President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, Excellency President Kenyatta, Excellency President Buhari, Excellency President Saied, Excellency President Michel, Excellency President von der Leyen, Excellencies, dear colleagues, and friends, Good morning, bonjour, it’s an honour to be here with you. It’s incredible to think…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) | Feb 11, 2022

Coronavirus: South Africa’s mRNA Hub Progress is Foundation for Self-reliance

The central aim is to develop a training facility where mRNA technology is developed to the scale required for mass production of vaccines

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Buti Manamela, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training of the Republic of South Africa, Dr Blade Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of South Africa, Dr Joe Phaahla, Minister of Health of South Africa and Meryame Kitir, Minister…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) | Feb 07, 2022

Commonwealth and WHO to Strengthen Cooperation on Health, Including Access to Vaccines

Memorandum of Understanding agreement signed today focuses on ending the COVID-19 pandemic, advancing Universal Health Coverage, addressing vaccine equity, strengthening digital health systems and working towards global health security

The Commonwealth Secretariat and the World Health Organization (WHO) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) committing to strengthening their collaboration on a broad range of public health issues of particular concern to Commonwealth member states and governments, such as the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine equity, advancing universal…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) | Feb 03, 2022

Coronavirus: Africa needs to ramp up COVID-19 vaccination six-fold

To date, Africa has received more than 587 million vaccine doses, 58% through the COVAX Facility, 36 % from bilateral deals and 6% through Africa Vaccines Acquisition Trust (AVAT) of the African Union

Although COVID-19 vaccine supplies to Africa have risen significantly, the continent is struggling to expand rollout, with only 11% of the population fully vaccinated. The vaccination rate needs to increase six times if the continent is to meet the 70% target set for the middle of this year. The World…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) | Jan 16, 2022

Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVAX delivers its 1 billionth COVID-19 vaccine dose

COVAX is leading the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history, with deliveries to 144 countries to date

On 15 January 2021, a shipment of 1.1 million COVID-19 vaccines to Rwanda included the billionth dose supplied via COVAX. Together with our partners, COVAX is leading the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history, with deliveries to 144 countries to date. But the work that has gone into…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) | Nov 30, 2021

WHO advice for international traffic in relation to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529)

WHO commends South Africa and Botswana for the speed and transparency with which they notified and shared information on Omicron

WHO has issued advice to countries on travel, given the circulation of Omicron variant. WHO commends South Africa and Botswana for the speed and transparency with which they notified and shared information on Omicron, allowing other countries to rapidly adjust their response. While scientific research is underway to…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) | Nov 30, 2021

WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the Member State Information Session on the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2

“I thank Botswana and South Africa for detecting, sequencing and reporting this variant so rapidly” - WHO Director-General

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends, The emergence of the Omicron variant has understandably captured global attention. The emergence of any new variant should capture our attention, especially one as highly mutated as Omicron. The WHO Secretariat takes this development extremely seriously, and so should all Member States. But…

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