The World Health Organization and its partners called for action to boost vaccination against diseases such as measles and polio globally after the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted access to what had become routine shots.

Axar.az reports that this was reported by foreign media.

"If we're to avoid multiple outbreaks of life-threatening diseases like measles, yellow fever, and diphtheria, we must ensure routine vaccination services are protected in every country in the world," WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said at a twice-weekly webinar on COVID-19.

"Vaccines will help us end the COVID-19 pandemic but only if we ensure fair access for all countries and build strong systems to deliver them."

The WHO chief noted that globally, the pandemic continues to intensify.

The number of COVID-19 cases has now increased for the ninth successive week, and deaths have risen for the sixth straight week.

"To put it in perspective, there were almost as many cases globally last week as in the first five months of the pandemic," said Tedros.