WORLD leaders have been warned that an “unthinkable and unconscionable vaccine waste disaster” is rapidly approaching after research revealed that a stockpile of 100 million doses of Covid19 vaccine is due to expire in December.

Former prime minister Gordon Brown is calling for a vaccine-release plan that would transfer “use-now” doses to where they are needed most.

Data analytics firm Airfinity said yesterday that a staggering number of doses hoarded by rich nations will pass their sell-by date in just a few months.

The firm’s research, which comes as poorer countries remain in desperate need of greater vaccine supplies, has been sent today by Mr Brown to leaders in Britain, the United States and European Union before a global vaccine summit on Wednesday.

Wealthy nations’ deals with vaccine manufacturers have resulted in stockpiling, limiting the number of doses transferred to Covax, the UN-backed global vaccine-sharing scheme. 

“It is unthinkable and unconscionable that 100 million vaccines will have to be thrown away from the stockpiles of the rich countries whilst the populations of the world’s poorest countries will pay for our vaccine waste in lives lost,” Mr Brown said.

“It will be a profound and collective political tragedy if this summit misses the opportunity to act, with doses transferred immediately to poorer countries.”

The former PM has just been appointed ambassador for global health financing by the World Health Organisation. He is calling on world leaders to set a target of 40 per cent vaccination in the poorest countries by December.

To achieve this, Mr Brown said that unused doses must be transferred “month by month” and delivery contracts swapped so that Covax and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust can receive the jabs earlier.

Airfinity’s research also predicted that seven billion vaccines will be available across the world by the end of the month, rising to 12 billion by December.

Mr Brown said this was enough to vaccinate 70 per cent of the global population by May next year.

Commenting on the research, Global Justice Now director Nick Dearden said that “wasting millions of doses that could be used to save lives would be an atrocity. 

“But it’s almost inevitable when a handful of rich country companies monopolise vaccine production.

“Poorer countries shouldn’t have to wait until our doses are about to expire to vaccinate their populations. Many are capable of safely manufacturing vaccines if only we would waive intellectual property so vaccines can be produced patent-free in the countries that need them most.”