Covid-19: Vaccines have saved at least 1.4 million lives in Europe, WHO reports

Vaccination against covid-19 has reduced deaths in Europe by at least 57% and saved at least 1.4 million lives, the World Health Organization has estimated.

A preprint study by researchers from WHO/Europe reports that the known death toll from covid of 2.5 million in the WHO European Region could have been as high as four million without vaccines.1 The analysis of data from 34 countries also found that over 90% of lives saved were in people over 60.

Discussing the findings at a press briefing on 16 January, Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, said, “Today there are 1.4 million people in our region, most of them elderly, who are around to enjoy life with their loved ones because they took the vital decision to be vaccinated against covid-19. This is the power of vaccines. The evidence is …