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A social media video from an unidentified source illegally using the logo and name of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is circulating in the English-speaking Caribbean countries as a “Public Alert Alert” for childhood COVID-19 vaccination.
PAHO wishes to inform the public that the message does not reflect the position of the Organization and that it contains false and defamatory information about PAHO’s activities, projects and funding.
Furthermore, the misinformation contained in the video that the vaccines against COVID-19 are dangerous for children, cause infections and can render them sterile, is not based on scientific evidence.
If this misinformation is followed by parents and guardians, children’s health will be put at serious risk.
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The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and can lead to severe illness in people of any age, especially those with underlying medical conditions. The virus has caused over 17,500 deaths in English, Dutch and French-speaking Caribbean countries and territories since 2020.
Vaccines against COVID-19 are safe and effective and offer strong protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19.
PAHO’s COVID-19 vaccination strategy follows the advice of the World Health Organization (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization and the PAHO Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Vaccines and Immunization in the Americas.
SAGE and TAG are composed of independently appointed experts who review the clinical evidence on vaccine safety and effectiveness before making a recommendation.
Both currently recommend that people be vaccinated against COVID-19 to prevent severe illness and death, with vaccines approved under the WHO’s Emergency Use List (EUL).
SAGE and TAG recommend that countries should achieve at least 70% coverage with a primary vaccination series among the general population and 100% in high-priority groups.
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PAHO reiterates the importance of implementing comprehensive vaccination strategies against COVID-19 to achieve these objectives.
The organization is working with Caribbean governments and other partners to inform the Caribbean population and encourage mothers to protect their children with the COVID-19 vaccine.
PAHO condemns the unauthorized and fraudulent use of its name and logo to spread any misinformation.
SOURCE: Pan American Health Organization/SLT. Header Photo: Stock Image.
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