WHO will not endorse any vaccine unless proven safe

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday said the UN health agency would not recommend any COVID-19 vaccine before it is proved safe and effective.

It comes as Russia and China have started using their experimental vaccines before long-term studies have been completed and other countries have proposed streamlining authorisation procedures.

"I would like to assure the public that WHO will not endorse a vaccine that's not effective and safe", Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.