A public health group that manages the United Nations-backed programme Covax to ship Covid-19 vaccines to poor countries is paring back its supply forecast for this year by more than 100 million doses, largely because a key Indian manufacturer has focused on needs at home.

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, says it now projects that Covax can supply just under 1.9 billion doses this year — including about 1.5bn provided for free to 92 poor countries — down from original targets of more than two billion doses.

The shortfall comes because the Serum Institute of India — a pivotal producer of vaccines for Covax — has reverted supplies to needy people in India, as its government scrambled to fight a spike in infections.

So far, Covax has only distributed about 90m doses, far short of its original plans, according to AP.