86 countries globally have still not been able to vaccinate 40 percent of their populations against COVID-19, a target set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for 2021.

This was revealed by the WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom in a Monday press conference with Svenja Schulze, the German Minister for Development.

He also pointed out that and 34 countries globally were still shy of vaccinating 10 percent of their populations.

He called for equity in the distribution of the tools against the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the world is at a critical juncture in the fight against the pandemic, as it enters its third year.

"We must work together to bring the acute phase of this pandemic to an end. We cannot let it continue to drag on, lurching between panic and neglect," said Tedros.

"We have all of the tools to end the acute phase of this pandemic. But we have to use them equitably and wisely."

The WHO chief also noted that vaccines alone cannot end the pandemic, adding that many countries need diagnostics, life-saving therapeutics, including oxygen, and support for vaccine rollout.