“We cannot accept countries that have already used most of the global supply of vaccines using even more of it, while the world’s most vulnerable people remain unprotected,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The WHO said the moratorium would help towards the goal of vaccinating at least 10% of every country’s population by the end of September.
Washington has not yet announced a booster vaccination plan. But the White House appeared to reject the WHO’s call, arguing it could deliver doses to Americans and support global vaccination efforts.
“We definitely feel that it’s a false choice and we can do both,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters, adding that the US has donated more doses than any other country. “Also in this country [we] have enough supply to ensure that every American has access to a vaccine,” she added.
It is the latest appeal from the UN health agency for rich countries to do more to help improve access to vaccines in the developing world.
Tedros said richer countries had administered about 100 doses of coronavirus vaccines for every 100 people on average, while low-income countries — hampered by short supplies — have provided only about 1.5 doses per 100 people.