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The UK and other wealthy nations should send Covid vaccines to poorer countries now rather than wait for a surplus, the World Trade Organization chief has said.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said it was 'in the interest' of richer countries to ensure the rollout of the vaccine worldwide is equal.

It comes after Boris Johnson told global leaders there is 'no point' in vaccinating national populations if efforts are not made to ensure the 'whole world' receives jabs.

G7 leaders yesterday promised to immunise the world's neediest people by giving money and precious vaccine doses to an UN-backed vaccine distribution effort.

Ms Okonjo-Iweala told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the UK's plan to donate its surplus vaccines to the developing world was welcomed but needs to be accelerated.

She said: 'I don't think we should wait to get surplus when other people have been served.

'I think that any donations that are coming must come now.

'The reason is very simple. It's in the interest of rich countries as well as poor countries to have equitable access.'

She cited a study by the International Chamber of Commerce that outlines the case for global vaccinations.

The study claimed the world could lose £6.4trillion ($9trillion) if richer countries have vaccinated half their populations and poor countries have not vaccinated theirs by the middle of the year.

In the lead-up to yesterday's virtual G7 meeting, Boris Johnson pledged to donate the majority of the UK's surplus vaccines to poorer nations.

Addressing the leaders, including US President Joe Biden in his first major multilateral meeting, from Downing Street, Mr Johnson encouraged other developed nations to join the effort to increase the global vaccine supply.

He said: 'Science is finally getting the upper hand on Covid, which is a great, great thing and long overdue.

'But there is no point in us vaccinating our individual populations – we've got to make sure the whole world is vaccinated because this is a global pandemic and it's no use one country being far ahead of another, we've got to move together.