The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday said the UN health agency would not recommend any COVID-19 vaccine before it is proved safe and effective. It comes as Russia and China have started using their experimental vaccines before long-term studies have been completed and other countries have proposed streamlining authorisation procedures. At a press briefing on Friday, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said vaccines have been used successfully for decades and credited them with eradicating smallpox and bringing polio to the verge of being eliminated. "I would like to assure the public that WHO will not endorse a vaccine that's not effective and safe", Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. He credited newly developed Ebola vaccines with helping to end the recent Ebola outbreak in Congo. Adhanom Ghebreyesus appealed to people opposed to vaccination to do their own research. "The anti-vaccine movement, they can build narratives to fight against vaccines but the track record of vaccines tells its own story and people should not be confused", he said. He said he was hopeful there would soon be an effective coronavirus vaccine "so the world can get back to normal". Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2TwO8Gm QUICKTAKE ON SOCIAL: Follow QuickTake on Twitter: twitter.com/quicktake Like QuickTake on Facebook: facebook.com/quicktake Follow QuickTake on Instagram: instagram.com/quicktake Subscribe to our newsletter: https://bit.ly/2FJ0oQZ Email us at [email protected] QuickTake by Bloomberg is a global news network delivering up-to-the-minute analysis on the biggest news, trends and ideas for a new generation of leaders.