GENEVA: The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine divide between rich and poor nations is worsening by the day, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Monday, insisting the failure to distribute doses fairly could cost the global economy trillions of dollars.

The WHO said it needed $26 billion this year for its program aimed at speeding up the development, procurement and equitable delivery of vaccines, treatments and tests to beat the coronavirus pandemic.