COVAX, a World Health Organization-led initiative aimed at ensuring equal access to COVID-19 vaccines by various countries, has so far shipped more than 36 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to 86 countries, a spokesperson for the United Nations (UN) said on Monday.

"The goal is to vaccinate 20 percent of the population – that's around 1.6 million people – this year. The UN team helped procure syringes and other materials, and we are also supporting efforts to ensure that people can continue access to healthcare services," Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told the regular press briefing.