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France calls on US to drop vaccine export bans

08 May 2021 20:41 (UTC +04:00)

French President Emmanuel Macron has called on the US to drop its restrictions on the export of Covid-19 vaccines and ingredients, APA reports citing BBC.

His words came as a divide emerged between parts of Europe and the US over how best to increase global vaccine production.

Currently, around 1.25bn doses have been administered around the world.

However, less than 1% have been given to the world's 29 poorest countries, according to news agency AFP.

Rich countries, by contrast, are speeding up their vaccination campaigns. In the UK , 67% of the population has received a first dose and in the US 56% of those eligible have had one jab.

On Friday, the EU agreed to purchase 900 million more doses of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, with the option for 900 million more.