The head of the World Health Organisation called vaccine inequality "grotesque" as he urged producers of Covid-19 vaccines to follow AstraZeneca's lead and license technology to other makers.
WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for more drug makers to adopt this model to boost supplies, including for the Covax vaccine-sharing programme to quickly send more shots to developing countries.
"The gap between number of vaccines administered in rich countries and the number administered through Covax is growing and becoming more grotesque every day," Dr Tedros said.
"The inequitable distribution of vaccines is not just a moral outrage. It's also economically and epidemiologically self-defeating."
AstraZeneca's shot is being produced in various locations including South Korea's SK Bioscience and the Serum Institute of India.
Interim data showed the AstraZeneca vaccine, developed with the University of Oxford, was 79 per cent effective in preventing symptomatic Covid-19 and posed no increased risk of blood clots.
WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan called it a "very good vaccine for all age groups".
Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark have extended suspensions of AstraZeneca's vaccine as investigations continue into rare blood-clotting events.
But WHO officials said African countries receiving the vaccine through Covax are moving ahead.
"They did ask a lot of questions but the demand for the vaccine is extremely high," said WHO senior adviser Bruce Aylward.
It remains possible for Covax to hit a second-quarter goal of delivering 300 million doses, Mr Aylward said.
But he acknowledged "teething problems", with SKBioSciences and the Serum Institute hard pressed to fill Covax orders.
"We simply cannot get enough vaccine," Mr Aylward said.
"We're hoping both companies will be able to scale up and keep up with the rate of deliveries we're aiming for."
The distance learning plan
Spring break will be from March 8 - 19
Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm
Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19
Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning
Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5
'Ghostbusters: From Beyond'
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace
Rating: 2/5
The biog
Marital status: Separated with two young daughters
Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo
Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian
Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness
Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
SERIES INFO
Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series
All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Test series
1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
2nd Test: Wednesday, 10 March – Sunday, 14 March
Play starts at 9.30am
T20 series
1st T20I: Wednesday, 17 March
2nd T20I: Friday, 19 March
3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March
TV
Supporters in the UAE can watch the matches on the Rabbithole channel on YouTube
