The World Health Organization (WHO) said it will release its judgments on the emergency use listing requests from Sinopharm, Sinovac and Moderna for their COVID-19 vaccines by the end of next week.

It had been expected to make a decision on the Sinopharm jab this week. 

WHO Assistant Director-General Mariangela Simao said the body's independent panel was meeting on Friday and assessing the China-made Sinopharm and the U.S.-manufactured Moderna vaccine.

She said the Chinese Sinovac vaccine would be assessed by the panel next week. 

"So, by the beginning of next week or the end of next week, we will have the final assessment of these three vaccines out," she said. 

"It's very important that we get vaccines that are proven safe and effective into the global market right now, as we are seeing that we have a lot of instability in the supply," she added at the WHO's regular media briefing.

"We have issues with the supply from India. We have issues with different vaccine manufacturers with a lack of the drug substance. 

"So we do need more vaccines to come to the market. The vaccines need to be emergency use by WHO in order for them to be used for international procurement."

Simao said there were also other vaccines being assessed.

Read more: Map of where Chinese vaccines are being used around the world