UK government secures 90 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines

The UK government has agreed to buy 90 million doses of coronavirus vaccines being developed by Pfizer and Biontech, and France’s Valneva.

Pfizer and Biontech have agreed to supply 30 million doses of their BNT162 mRNA-based vaccine candidate, currently in development, subject to clinical success and regulatory approval. No financial details were disclosed but the companies said the terms were based on the timing of delivery and the volume of doses.

The UK government has also agreed in principle for Valneva to supply 60 million doses of a vaccine it is developing, and a further 40 million if it’s found to be "safe, effective and suitable".

For those who cannot receive vaccines, such as cancer and immunocompromised patients, the government has reached an agreement in principle for one million doses of an AstraZeneca treatment containing Covid-19 neutralising antibodies.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma said: "This new partnership with some of the world’s foremost pharmaceutical and vaccine companies will ensure the UK has the best chance possible of securing a vaccine that protects those most at risk."

The government already has a global licensing agreement with AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford to research, develop and manufacture a Covid-19 vaccine. AstraZeneca is working to produce 100 million doses for the UK in total.