The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) gave unanimous approval Friday to a resolution calling for improved access to COVID-19 vaccines in conflict-hit or impoverished countries, diplomats said.

It was the second resolution on the pandemic passed by the council since it began a year ago and the fresh resolution was co-sponsored by all 15 members of the council.

"Voting for vaccine equity is important and we appreciate that," World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in welcoming the vote. "But the concrete steps should be taken, and waive IP to increase production, coverage of vaccine and get rid of this virus as soon as possible," he told reporters. "The UNSC can do it if there is political will."

At a regular WHO media briefing on Friday, Tedros also made an appeal to countries around the world on vaccine equity. 

"Now is the time to use every tool to scale up production, including licensing and technology transfer, and where necessary, intellectual property waivers. If not now, then when?" he said. 

(With input from AFP)