In the village of Al-Tah, located in northwestern Syria, residents are grappling with the harsh realities of the COVID-19 pandemic. With only 1 percent of the population vaccinated as of August 27, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, Syria remains one of the least vaccinated countries in the world.
Local healthcare professionals express deep concern over the vaccine shortages. “Our communities are vulnerable,” one hospital director in Maarat al-Numan says. “We urgently need vaccine assistance to protect our people and prevent further spread of the virus.”
The dire vaccination situation is amplified by the already strained healthcare infrastructure, a consequence of years of conflict. The lack of vaccines not only jeopardizes public health but also hinders efforts to rebuild communities and restore a sense of normalcy.
Recently, a CGTN stringer visited Al-Tah and spoke with local residents and healthcare workers about the impact of the vaccine shortage. Their stories highlight a collective plea for international assistance to bridge the gap in vaccine distribution.
The global community has been called upon to support countries like Syria, where vaccine accessibility is critically low. International cooperation and aid are deemed essential to prevent further humanitarian crises and to control the spread of COVID-19 variants.
As neighboring regions begin to see improvements due to higher vaccination rates, Syrian communities remain hopeful that increased attention will lead to much-needed support. The urgency is palpable, and the need for vaccines is a matter of life and death for many.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
