China has joined a group of more than 60 countries at the United Nations urging wealthy states to do more to vaccinate the developing world.

Of around 2.5 billion vaccines administered worldwide, only 0.3 percent have been in low-income countries.

Meanwhile, the U.S., the UK and the European Union have secured enough doses to cover their populations many times over.

"Vaccines are powerful tools to address the pandemic, and thus should become a global public good," said Chen Xu, China's representative at the UN in Geneva, on behalf of the group of 63 nations. "We are worried by the disturbing trend of vaccine nationalism and stockpiling of vaccine doses far above their population's need."

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The statement urged wealthy countries to expand their own production while also supporting development elsewhere. A waiver on patents should be applied to allow more manufacturers to produce established vaccines, the ambassador said.

The statement comes in the wake of a report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights that found countries had failed to uphold human rights sufficiently during the pandemic. That report called for a more joined-up, multilateral approach to tackling COVID-19 based on the principle of solidarity.