ADDIS ABABA – United Kingdom endeavouring to be the first coronavirus vaccine beneficial country since researchers are working to find the vaccine with support of government funding.
UK’s top researchers rapidly working to find a coronavirus vaccine will benefit from government funding of 84 million pound, Business Secretary Alok Sharma said.
The funding comes as Oxford University agreed a global licensing agreement with AstraZeneca, the UK-based pharmaceutical company, for the commercialization and manufacturing of their potential vaccine, it was learnt.
Consequently, AstraZeneca will work to make up to 30 million doses available by September for people in the UK, as part of an agreement to deliver 100 million doses in total if the Oxford vaccine is successful, as to the Business Secretary.
Sharma said that the scientists are at the forefront of vaccine development whereas deal with AstraZeneca will help people in the UK to get the first access to vaccine, helping to protect thousands of lives.
“The agreement will deliver 100 million doses in total ensuring that in addition to supporting our own people, we are able to make the vaccines available to developing countries at the lowest possible cost.”
The UK continues to lead the global response to find a vaccine and the government is backing our scientists to do this as quickly as possible, he noted.
AstraZeneca Chief Executive Officer Pascal Soriot for his part noted that AstraZeneca is at the forefront of the response to COVID-19 and it is working with Oxford University to help make the vaccine available as quickly as possible.
“Our company is working hard to establish parallel supply agreements with other nations and multilateral organizations to ensure fair and equitable access around the world.”
Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University Professor Sir John Bell, said the University of Oxford is immensely proud of the scientists at the Jenner Institute and the Oxford Vaccine Group who have worked tirelessly to discover and develop this vaccine in record time.
“We now have a partner in AstraZeneca who are ideally positioned to help us evaluate the vaccine, manufacture it and distribute it to UK citizens as well as to the rest of the world. They share our commitment to true global access to end this pandemic.”
Professor Robin Shattock of Imperial College London said the funding will greatly accelerate our efforts to demonstrate the effectiveness of vaccine and make it available to at risk populations as rapidly as possible.
“Access to such support allows us to move at unprecedented speed.”
The UK is at the forefront of international efforts to research and develop a vaccine. The government has already pledged 250 million pound to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the highest contribution of any country, the release indicated.
This is part of the UK committing 388 million pound to the international drive to develop vaccines, tests and treatments. In June, the UK will also host the upcoming global pledging conference for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
The Ethiopian Herald May 19/2020
BY STAFF REPORTER
