Rich nations to have 1.2b surplus jabs

Wealthy countries could potentially have a surplus of more than one billion Covid-19 vaccine doses available by the end of the year that are not designated as donations to poorer nations.

Vaccine stock in Western countries has reached 500 million doses this month, with 360 million not earmarked for donations, according to new research by data analytics firm Airfinity. By the end of the year, these countries will have a potential of 1.2 billion surplus shots, with overwhelming majority – 1.06 billion – not marked for donations, it said.