UK goes in partnerships with huge pharmaceutical companies and deals with them to secure 90 million Covid-19 vaccines for them. It will be a good deal if the vaccines are successful and UK can give it to those at risk and stop infections in the country.
During these unprecedented times of a pandemic, people are struggling both physically and mentally. In a world filled with connections, people were suddenly asked to socially distance them. First the social distancing took a huge toll in everyone’s life. People were advised to stay at home, wear masks and everything which is not normal but now seems like is the new normal. It is hard to let go of a lifestyle we are used to, but it is better to be safe than sorry. The only thing human across the world are waiting for is a cent-percent cure for the deadly virus. A vaccine is a much awaited thing right now and hopefully it will be out soon.
United Kingdom is one step ahead as they have secured early access of 90 million Covid-19 vaccines by partnering with the pharmaceutical companies.
BioNTech and Pfizer are two companies that have signed with United Kingdom for securing 30 million doses of vaccine. This is the first time ever a pharmaceutical company has signed on with the government. The vaccines developed by Pfizer and BioNTech have reached the human trials stage and are in the phase 2 of clinical trials.
Valneva is another pharmaceutical company which is involved in the development of Covid-19 vaccine. Valneva is a Scotland based pharma company which has a manufacturing unit in Livingston. This is the second deal by UK government. In this deal UK government can acquire more than 60 million doses of the vaccine developed by Valneva. The UK government is also contributing in Valneva for clinical trials and if all goes well the UK government can acquire a total of 100 Million doses of the vaccine as they also have an option of acquiring a further 40 million doses to the 60 million secured doses. UK is also helping in the funding to the Scottish company Valneva to expand their facilities.
These three agreements which UK has with the Vaccine generating Covid-19 pharmaceutical companies is enough to vaccinate those at risk or the ones we call priority groups. These priority groups are mainly health and social care workers, and not just the front line workers but also the people who are at high risk of complications or even death from the deadly virus.
North Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England are the countries which would have enough doses to vaccinate the priority groups in the 3 agreement by the UK government. The partnership with pharmaceutical companies would ensure that United Kingdom has a better chance of securing vaccine for those at higher risk. This could be a very strategic and best way for UK to come out of this coronavirus crisis.
Itlooks like UK government is way ahead and taking the right decision by investing in the top pharmaceutical companies to protect their own. Investing in not just one and 3 companies will just mean that the government is being safe by keeping all their doors and options open.
The government wants to do the best for their country and the only way to do is it to secure their own. And if it means securing vaccine doses which are not even developed yet, they why not? This is just the government being extra safe so that they could help the country and the people out of this country to come out of the pandemic stronger.
These are not the only companies the UK government is going to have agreement with. There is a full-fledged list of potential candidates that can catch the eye of the UK government in the vaccine area.
There is one being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. This particular vaccine was the first one to reach phase-3 trials in the month of May.
A vaccine developed by Imperial College London with An mRNA technology. This vaccine started human trials in June
The UK government is also involving students and people from across the country to help during this time of crisis. The government launched a website which will solely work for vaccine studies and people can register to take part in any of the future vaccine studies. They want at least 500 thousand people to sign up on this website by the end of October. The studies will not just help to rationalize the vaccine but also can see and record the affect it has on individuals from all over the country.
By Deepika Agarwal
