The Covax coronavirus vaccine sharing facility aims to distribute at least 240 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines in the first half of this year, the Gavi vaccine alliance has said.

The facility, which is co-led by Gavi, the World Health Organisation, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and the UN Children's Fund, said its interim distribution forecast would cover an average of 3.3 per cent of the total populations of 145 participating countries, according to a Reuters report.

Covax said in a statement that the allocations would be subject to various caveats, including WHO emergency listing and countries' readiness and acceptance.