MACRON WANTS STEPPED-UP VACCINE DRIVES IN POOR NATIONS

French President Emmanuel Macron slammed "vaccine nationalism" and said vaccinations in poor nations should be intensified after talking to the head of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The president's aims were reported in Elysee circles after a video phone call between Macron and the WHO's Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) reported.

Macron was eyeing the ACT Accelerator - the WHO program for the development, production and fair distribution of Covid-19 tests, drugs and vaccines - according to the presidential office. He would talk to organizations involved in the project on Friday, it said.

Macron and his government have been under pressure at home after a vaccine campaign had a slow rollout. Despite the difficulties, however, Macron has repeatedly declared his support for the European path he's chosen and has made the issue of vaccines a top priority.

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