Wealthy nations urged to give portion of Covid vaccine as 'humanitarian buffer'

Stockpile sought for use in rebel-held territories, asylum camps and for others unlikely to receive vaccinations

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Public health groups are lobbying countries to commit a portion of their Covid-19 vaccine supplies to a humanitarian buffer" that would be used to inoculate people living in rebel-held territories, those in asylum-seeker camps and others unlikely to receive vaccinations from their governments.

The stockpile is intended for use in emergencies and as a safety net to ensure the global effort to end the Covid-19 pandemic is not sabotaged by governments using vaccines as bargaining chip with restive populations, or simply denying it to some marginalised groups.