EU member states, the UK and the US have been accused of stockpiling more vaccines than they needed, while turning a blind eye to large pharmaceuticals' refusal to share their technology to enable wider distribution of vaccines.

It’s the “the greatest betrayal of our times”, says Amnesty International in its latest report. The group slammed rich countries for “false promises and empty slogans” and for widening global inequality during the pandemic.

Last year Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna projected $54bn (£41bn) in profits yet supplied less than 2% of their vaccines to low-income countries, the watchdog said.

About 8% of Africans had been vaccinated against Covid by the end of 2021, the lowest rate in the world.

Vaccination distribution continues to be painfully slow across the continent, igniting fears of deepening poverty and a prolonged economic recovery. Africa recorded nearly 9 million cases and more than 220,000 deaths during 2021.