Alonso joins Beckham, Messi and Murray in UNICEF Covid call to G7

Fernando Alonso has joined forces with major names from sport and entertainment in calling on the world's richest countries to deliver vast quantities of Covid-19 vaccines to poorer nations.

The G7 countries - the United States, Canada, Japan, Britain, France, Germany and Italy - have pledged one billion Covid vaccines, although the demand is far higher.

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund of which Alonso is an ambassador, has issued an open letter to the G7 leaders expressing its concerns and hopes.

The letter, signed by Alonso, along with David Beckham, Lionel Messi, Andy Murray, Whoopi Goldberg, Liam Neeson, Orlando Bloom and Ewan McGregor, amongst others, demands "a healthier, brighter and fairer future for every child and for everyone".

It reads: "The world has spent a year and a half battling the COVID-19 pandemic, but the virus is still spreading in many countries and producing new variants with the potential to put us all back where we started.

"This means more school closures, more healthcare disruptions and greater economic fallout – threatening the futures of families and children everywhere.

"The pandemic will not be over anywhere until it is over everywhere, and that means getting vaccines to every country, as quickly and equitably as possible.

"The G7 Summit is a vital opportunity for you to agree the actions that will get vaccines where they are most needed, fast.

"UNICEF is already on the ground delivering vaccines on behalf of COVAX, the international vaccine equity initiative.

"But right now, COVAX is 190 million doses short of where it needs to be, which leaves vulnerable people dangerously unprotected. Some countries have committed to donating vaccines later this year, but doses are needed now.

"UNICEF analysis shows that G7 countries will soon have enough doses to donate 20 per cent of their vaccines between June and August – over 150 million doses – without significant delay to current plans to vaccinate their adult populations.

"We’re asking you to make these urgent donations by August and to set out a roadmap to scale up donations as supplies increase. Forecasts suggest as many as 1 billion doses may be available for donation by year end.

"The hopes of the world rest on your shoulders. Together, you must rise to this challenge. Let’s build a healthier, brighter and fairer future for every child and for everyone."