The UK planning to have 30 million coronavirus vaccines available by September if trials prove successful
“The (UK) Government would ensure to make the vaccine available to developing countries at the lowest possible cost.” (Alok Sharma, UK Business Secretary).
In the United Kingdom yesterday, the Business Secretary Alok Sharma, announced ambitious plans should the UK’ coronaviruis vaccine trials be successful.
At present Oxford University and Imperial College London are both in the process of developing a vaccine.
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, he revealed a further £84 million in new funding “to help accelerate their work”.
Mr Sharma said the Government has now committed more than a quarter of a billion pounds towards developing a vaccine in the UK.
He said: “This new money will help mass-produce the Oxford vaccine so that if current trials are successful we have dosages to start vaccinating the UK population straight away.”
Under a new licensing partnership with pharmaceutical firm Astra Zeneca, Mr Sharma promised 30 million vaccines for the UK by September.
This is part of a larger agreement for over 100 million doses in total.
He confirmed that “the UK will be first to get access” but also that the Government would ensure to make the vaccine available to developing countries "at the lowest possible cost”.
The first clinical trial of the Oxford vaccine is already underway, while the Imperial College will be looking to move into clinical trials next month.
Mr Sharma said both trials are world leaders in vaccines against the disease.
Source: Quoting a Sky News report.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
