WHO calls on UK to share vaccines with other nations

The UK should 'pause' its coronavirus vaccine roll-out once priority groups are inoculated and share jab supplies with other nations, World Health Organisation official Margaret Harris has said, Report informs, referring to TASS.

"We're asking countries, once you've got those [healthcare workers and vulnerable people] groups, please ensure that the supply you've got access to is provided for others," Harris said in an interview with the BBC.

She noted that such an approach would be morally and financially correct.

"Just vaccinating your own country and then sitting there and saying 'we're fine' will not work economically," she said.

"That phrase 'no man is an island' applies economically as well. We in the world, we're so connected, and unless we get all societies working effectively once again, every society will be financially affected."

On January 25, WHO Director-General Tedros Adanom Ghebreyesus said 'vaccine nationalism' could cost the global economy $ 9.2 trillion. Nearly half of that loss - $ 4.5 trillion - could be suffered by the wealthiest economies. UN Secretary-General António Guterres agreed with his assessment, calling for a more equitable distribution of vaccines worldwide.