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Britain has secured access to 90 million doses of potential coronavirus vaccines in deals with biotech firms BioNTech, Pfizer and Valneva. Britain would now have access to three different types of vaccines being developed.
It had also launched a website for volunteers to sign up for vaccine studies. 30 million doses of a vaccine are being developed by BioNTech and German firm Pfizer, and another 60 million doses by France’s Valneva.
According to UK business ministry, the in-principle agreement with Vaneva allows the government to secure 60 million doses of vaccine, with an option to acquire another 40 million doses of the vaccine if it is proven to be ‘safe, effective and suitable.
The two major vaccine deals come after its recent agreement with AstraZeneca to produce 100 million doses of a potential vaccine being developed in partnership with Oxford University.
The British government has also signed a separate deal with AstraZeneca to acquire one million doses of a treatment containing COVID-19 neutralising antibodies to protect those who cannot receive vaccines, like cancer and immunocompromised patients.
Business Secretary Alok Sharma said in a statement that the government is doing everything it can to ensure its citizens get access to a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine as soon as possible.
In Brisbane, 120 volunteers have received their first dose of the potential immunisation, developed by the University of Queensland (UQ). It is one of several clinical trials being conducted around the country, including one other involving Queensland researchers and volunteers.
The trial, in which people will be injected with two doses every four weeks, will examine the safety and immune response of the vaccine among volunteers. Preliminary results of the trial are expected to be released by the end of September.
Article Written By Ompriya Sahoo
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