Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines must be shared with poorer nations to prevent richer countries being hit by newly-imported deadly variants, world leaders have been told.<\/p>\n
Global bodies \u2013 along with MPs and peers \u2013 warned of fresh lockdowns if people in developing nations do not get a huge increase in jabs.<\/p>\n
The warnings came as calls grew from experts to postpone England\u2019s unlocking on 21 June due to fears the Indian variant is fuelling a third wave of potentially \u201cexplosive\u201d coronavirus infections.<\/p>\n
In Scotland, first minister Nicola Sturgeon will confirm \u201cwhether and to what extent\u201d plans to further ease coronavirus restrictions can take place on 7 June, amid extra controls in Glasgow to deal with rising cases.<\/p>\n
With vaccines seen as the main escape route from repeated lockdowns to control the pandemic, governments around the world are being urged to do more to ensure those in developing nations can access jabs. The heads of the World Health Organisation, International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, and World Trade Organisation warned of a \u201cdangerous gap\u201d in the availability of jabs, with low-income nations receiving \u201cless than 1% of vaccines administered so far\u201d.<\/p>\n
They argued in an open letter published in a number of global newspapers<\/p>\n
Inequitable vaccine distribution is not only leaving untold millions of people vulnerable to the virus. It is also allowing deadly variants to emerge and ricochet back across the world<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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Jabs for all<\/h5>\n
In a separate letter, a cross-party group of more than 100 MPs and peers wrote to the prime minister with a similar message, calling for Britain to export more jabs to developing countries in a bid to prevent new variants from wrecking Britain\u2019s freedom plans.<\/p>\n
Urging Boris Johnson to show \u201cglobal leadership\u201d in the run-up to the G7 in Cornwall next week, the parliamentarians \u2013 including former archbishop of Canterbury lord Carey and Tory ex-health minister Dr Dan Poulter \u2013 urged him to commit to a one in, one out policy when it comes to vaccines.<\/p>\n
For every dose bought for use in Britain, the signatories want the UK Government to donate a dose to the United Nations-backed Covax scheme, which is providing vaccines to low and middle-income countries.<\/p>\n
They told Johnson in a letter seen by the PA<\/em> news agency:<\/p>\n
The longer we wait to act, the more likely it is that dangerous variants could emerge that can evade the protections offered by current vaccines<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Roll out<\/h5>\n
The race to vaccinate the UK gathered pace on 31 May after a major walk-in vaccination centre at Twickenham Stadium opened-up the jab offer to anyone aged over 18 in order not to waste doses. Currently, only those aged over 30 are being invited to book for a shot.<\/p>\n