STOCKHOLM (AP) — The chief epidemiologist who was seen as the architect of Sweden’s pandemic approach, which avoided lockdowns but saw the Scandinavian country earn one of the highest per capita death rates in the world, will work for the World Health Organization.
The Swedish Public Health Agency said on Wednesday that Anders Tegnell would start Monday with the United Nations health agency. In Geneva, he will work on global coronavirus vaccination efforts, coordinating the activities of WHO, UNICEF and the public-private vaccination organization Gavi.
“For 30 years I have worked with vaccines and at the same time I have always been passionate about international issues,” Tegnell said in a statement. “It is still very important that vaccines reach countries that have not had the financial conditions to purchase their own vaccines.”
Sweden has stood out among European nations and much of the world for the way it has responded to the pandemic. The government did not impose restrictions that shut down parts of the economy and instead relied on citizens’ sense of civic duty to protect the population.
Swedish authorities advised residents to practice social distancing, but schools, bars and restaurants remained open.
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