G7 to donate one billion vaccine doses by next year, says PM - BBC News
Boris Johnson praised commitments on vaccinations, climate change and education made at the summit.
A woman is vaccinated in Ghana, which has received jabs via the Covax scheme Image caption: A woman is vaccinated in Ghana, which has received jabs via the Covax scheme

Unicef has responded to the pledge by the G7 countries to donate one billion vaccine doses to poorer countries - but says the jabs need to be given sooner.

The charity has already warned, before the G7 summit, that there needs to be a steady supply throughout the year rather than countries donating their leftover doses all at the same time in the autumn and winter.

If that happens, Unicef says, then millions of doses could be wasted as poorer countries won't have the resources to jab everyone before the doses expire.

Boris Johnson didn't specify when exactly the one billion doses - including 100 million from the UK - will be given.

Unicef says it welcomes the pledge but says some dose donations will be available immediately - which it was "particularly pleased" about.

"However, time is still of the critical essence," says the charity in a statement.

“Several forecasts suggest that G7 countries will have enough vaccine supplies to donate one billion doses by as early as the end of 2021."

The charity calls for a clear plan and timeline of when doses will be available, and a "rapid acceleration of dose sharing in the next three months".