Europe is once again the epicentre of the COVID-19 amid a "false sense of security" over the protection offered by vaccines, and "no country is out of the woods", World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday.

Tedros, addressing a news conference, voiced hopes that a consensus can be found at World Trade Organization ministerial next week for an IP waiver for pandemic vaccines, already supported by more than 100 countries.

He was also encouraged about a "broad consensus" being reached on an international agreement on preventing pandemics at his agency's separate ministerial next week.

(With input from agencies)