The UK government has announced that it has secured early access to a further 40 million doses of the Valneva COVID-19 vaccine
100 million doses of Valneva vaccine have now been secured with this additional purchase of 40 million. It brings the UK’s vaccine portfolio to a total of 407 million doses over the next two years.
The deal will bolster long-term vaccine production in Scotland and support 100 highly-skilled jobs for scientists and technicians. The site will have the capacity to produce up to 250 million doses annually.
Vaccine candidate
Manufacturing began last week and is currently in phase I/II. It will need to meet the necessary safety and effectiveness standards and receive regulatory approval from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) before it is rolled out at the end of the year.
If it is approved, 60 million doses could start to be delivered to the UK by the second half of 2021, with the remaining 40 million being delivered in 2022. So far, the UK has invested over £300 million into manufacturing a successful vaccine.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said:
“This latest deal is yet another weapon in our national arsenal against this terrible disease and will ensure we have sufficient supplies to protect the British public in 2021 and beyond.
“Backed with major investment from the UK Government, Valneva’s site in Scotland will be a vaccine production powerhouse, working flat out to ensure we can quickly deploy jabs across the UK if their candidate is approved while supporting top quality, local jobs.
“Thanks to our incredible UK Vaccine Taskforce, we have now secured a bumper portfolio of over 400 million vaccines, putting our country in an exceptionally strong position to defeat this virus once and for all.”
Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi said:
“This deal provides a further boost to the UK’s already-strong vaccine portfolio, and I am enormously proud of all the work which has gone into securing a vaccine for the UK as soon as possible.
“If approved, Valneva’s vaccine will not only help tackle COVID-19 here in the UK, but aid our mission to ensure there is a fair supply of vaccines across the globe.
No one is safe till the whole world is safe.”
The Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack said:
“This deal is an endorsement of the UK Government’s strategy of investing in vaccine development and in the skills of the Scottish life sciences sector.
“I pay tribute to the team in Valneva’s new Livingston manufacturing plant. If the vaccine is authorised by the health regulator, their expertise will play an important role in making the world safer from this virus.’
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said:
“The UK has developed and invested in some of the world’s most promising vaccines – supporting global efforts to fight this virus.
“The Valneva vaccine showcases the best of Scottish expertise right at the heart of our UK vaccine endeavour, demonstrating the strength of our union and what the UK can achieve when it works together. If the vaccine is authorised by the health regulator, it will be rolled out across the four nations as quickly as possible.”
Interim Chair of the UK government’s Vaccines Taskforce Clive Dix said:
“Valneva’s manufacturing site in Scotland is already up and running, ready to supply their promising vaccine as soon as it has proven to be safe, and effective and is approved by the MHRA.
“To best ensure we have enough successful candidates to ensure maximum coverage of the UK population, the Vaccines Taskforce has invested in seven of the most promising vaccines. The further 40 million doses secured through today’s deal significantly bolsters our portfolio and gives us future flexibility should we need to revaccinate any of the UK population.
“I want to thank everyone involved in the development of this vaccine for the hard work that has helped us reach this point and also to pay tribute to those UK citizens who have volunteered to take part in the important clinical trials of this vaccine.”
