Iraq sees low demand on vaccines as coronavirus cases surge

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq is seeing a significant increase in coronavirus infections as it records high numbers of the newly-detected mutated variant, an official from the health ministry said on Wednesday, while warning of low demand on vaccines. 

Iraq on Wednesday recorded over six thousand cases, its highest count after a decline in coronavirus infections in the past few months.

“It was expected for the fourth wave of corona [virus] to start in January, and I emphasize that the main reason for the rise in infections is the Omicron variant,” state media quoted the health ministry’s general director Jaseb al-Hijami as saying.

“Most of the current infections are the Omicron variant,” he added, warning of a low demand on vaccines. 

Over 8.9 million people have been vaccinated in Iraq, according to the ministry's latest data. 

A new wave of the coronavirus hit Iraq and the Kurdistan Region after the detection of the first cases of the Omicron variant earlier this month. Both areas are seeing a surge of infections following a decline in cases. 

The Kurdistan Region entered the fourth wave of the virus last week. 

Coronavirus infection in Iraq increased from two hundred to 6,234 “in days,” the director noted.

The official warned of difficulties and challenges that could face the health sector, if “the daily record reached more than 15,000 cases.”

Omicron variant was first reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) on November 24, and was designated as a variant of concern two days later as it spread to several countries. WHO has said that evidence show that Omicron causes milder symptoms than the Delta variant, Reuters quoted a health official as saying.

In November, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region rolled the third dose of the vaccine and they made Pfizer jabs available for 12-year-olds and above.