A new vaccine supplements existing measures

At the Abuja commemoration, WHO described support for domestic production including traditional medicine products.

The WHO account described work on traditional medicine policy, a pharmacopoeia and a proposed strategic plan.

The gathering discussed research and manufacturing, without declaring a traditional COVID-19 treatment effective.

WHO advised use of RTS,S for children in sub-Saharan Africa and other areas with moderate to high transmission.

The recommendation drew on pilot programmes in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi.

Experience from delivery in three African countries contributed to WHO’s decision.

The eleventh International Classification of Diseases came into effect; it includes optional supplementary coding based on East Asian traditional medical concepts.

The ICD-11 traditional medicine chapter reflects concepts originating in Chinese medicine and used also in Japan, Korea and elsewhere.

Optional dual coding lets health systems record certain traditional medicine diagnoses alongside standard ICD categories for data collection.

ICD-11 taking effect enabled optional traditional medicine coding; inclusion does not establish that a treatment is safe or effective.