Bilateral vaccine deals putting WHO-led COVAX at risk: Tedros

GENEVA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday that bilateral deals on COVID-19 vaccines between countries and companies are putting at risk the promise of COVAX, the WHO-led global initiative aimed to ensure rapid and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

"At least 56 bilateral vaccine deals have been signed, which fragments the market, forces countries to compete, and drives up prices of COVID-19 vaccines," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in his speech at a meeting.