Posted by AI on 2025-07-29 16:40:32 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-06-23 02:52:40
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An independent study commissioned by the WHO claims that the COVID-19 vaccines saved more than 21 million lives globally since they became available. According to the research, 82% of the lives saved involved individuals who had received the vaccine before being infected by the coronavirus, while the remaining 18% were people who owed their life to the immunization because it prevented them from passing the virus on to someone else.
The study was carried out by researchers from the University of Washington, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), and the IHME COVID-19 Team, and it forms part of a growing body of research highlighting the importance of vaccines in fighting the pandemic.
IHME Professor Dr. Chris Murray, who led the research, praised the vaccines for their crucial role in saving lives, reducing hospitalizations, and lessening the burden on healthcare services.
"Safe and effective vaccines have been available for more than a year, and they continue to be our best tool for saving lives and stopping the spread of the virus," said Dr. Murray. "People who have access to vaccines and choose not to get them are putting themselves and others at risk."
The study's findings come as many countries grapple with declining vaccination rates, prompting concerns about the potential for vaccine-resistant strains to emerge.
"We know that some people are still hesitant about getting vaccinated," said Dr. Maria Rosario Gross, an officer at the WHO's Department of Public Health and Environment. "But we also know that vaccine adoption is increasing when the vaccine is made accessible, and vaccinations are made mandatory or requirements are introduced."
Ultimately, the study's authors argue that their research highlights the continued need for wider access to vaccines, particularly in lower-income countries, as a matter of urgency.