Covax

The government says more than 300 million vaccine doses will be produced in October and one billion in the last three months of the year.

The vaccine-sharing facility says it now expects to access just 1.425 billion vaccine doses this year – far short of its goal of delivering two billion doses by year-end.

President Xi Jinping also pledges to donate US$100 million to Covax.

Countries should also have some flexibility in selecting to buy particular vaccines that align with their preferences.

Rolling out booster doses while the virus rips through other parts of the world is counter-productive, WHO says.

While Covax has distributed 100 million vaccine doses across 135 participating territories, WHO says that figure should have been between 300 and 400 million by this stage.

The African Union has sharply criticised Europe, saying: 'Not one dose, not one vial, has left a European factory for Africa.'

This comes after an EU-wide Covid certificate for easier travel took effect that recognises four vaccines but not others.

The head of WHO laments the lack of vaccines being immediately donated by rich countries to the developing world.

He says Covax has been 'an abysmal failure' thanks to the conduct of rich countries in withholding vaccine supplies.

Sifat 'nasionalisme vaksin' sesetengah negara dan tindakan memborong vaksin dengan jumlah yang jauh melebihi keperluan semakin membimbangkan

Distribution has been hampered by manufacturing delays and supply disruptions, leading to shortages in countries wholly reliant on Covax.