BRUSSELS- A vaccine scheme co-led by the World Health Organization is setting up a compensation fund for people in poor nations who might suffer any side-effects from COVID-19 vaccines, aiming to allay fears that could hamper a global rollout of shots and prolong the pandemic.

The scheme is being set up by the promoters of the COVAX vaccine facility, which is co-led by the WHO and GAVI, a vaccine alliance.

(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio; Editing by Alison Williams) ((Francesco.Guarascio@thomsonreuters.com; +32 2 287 68 17;))