A new report shows that the number of COVID-19-infected health care workers in the world may have been 27 times greater than official statistics.
Only 6,643 of the global virus-related deaths have been attributed to doctors, nurses, or other medical staff.
However, the World Health Organization(WHO) estimates that the death toll by May 2021 will likely be between 80,000 to 180,000 because of the large gap in vaccination rates between rich countries and poor countries.
The UN health agency has called on countries to do more for the mental health of frontline workers who are at high risk of anxiety and burnout stress.
6.643 of the 3.45 million Covid deaths reported to the WHO between January 2020 – May 2021 were health care workers. According to the WHO, this is an undercount since the true global death toll is 60% lower than official estimates. Pictured: Health care workers attend to a patient with COVID-19a t Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center in Tarzana, California, September 2021
A WHO report recently estimated that COVID-19 caused the deaths of between 80,000 and 180,000 health workers, with a median estimate at 115,000 (above).
Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus, WHO Director General, stated that two-fifths of all health care workers in the world are vaccinated during a Thursday press conference.
He explained that there is a significant gap when richer nations are compared to poorer countries.
More than 88% of medical professionals in high-income countries are vaccinated. Contrast this with Africa, where less than one percent of African workers are vaccinated.
Tedros said to reporters that the workforce is the heart of every health system. They are the people who deliver the services we rely on at some point in life.
“The pandemic is an eloquent demonstration of how much we depend on health workers, and how vulnerable everyone is when the people who protect us from illness are themselves unprotected.”
A recent WHO working paper reveals that 6,643 of the 3.45 million Covid deaths worldwide between January 2020 & May 2021 were caused by healthcare workers.
However, the report says the global death toll is likely 60 percent higher, meaning so is the total number of COVID-19 deaths among health care workers.
The WHO estimates that the virus killed between 80,000-180,000 health care workers by May 2021, with a median estimate at 115,000.
Officials claim that many Western countries have stocks of COVID-19 vaccine doses. Many of these are due to expire.
The WHO has urged leaders around the globe to review their contracts with vaccine producers so that they can send excess shots to developing countries.
Tedros also called to establish a global moratorium on booster shot until more healthcare workers receive the initial dose.
He stated that countries with high incomes have received half the number of booster shots than those with low incomes.
Tedros stated, “More than ten months after the first vaccines were approved and the fact that millions still haven’t been vaccinated demonstrates the indictment of countries and corporations that control the global supply vaccines.”
The WHO is also asking countries to address the stress and burnout experienced by health care workers due to staff shortages or virus surges. They are often forced to work long hours and see multiple patients at once.
In a statement, the agency stated that it was essential that health and social care workers receive adequate protection in order to be able perform their jobs safely.
“They need to have employment opportunities, regular salaries and gender and pay equity, quality education, continuous professional development, career opportunities, protection from the elements, and effective recognition of their rights.
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