BBC: Britain raises order to 100 million Valneva COVID-19 vaccine doses

 (Reuters) - The British government has ordered 40 million further doses of Valneva's COVID-19 vaccine candidate for 2022, bringing its total orders to 100 million, the French drugmaker said on Monday.

REUTERS

1 February 2021

© Reuters/DADO RUVIC FILE PHOTO: A woman holds a medical syringe and a small bottle labelled "Coronavirus COVID-19 Vaccine

Britain could still order a further 90 million doses between 2023 and 2025, the company said.

The firm, which expects a read-out of its Phase I/II clinical trial within three months, said it had already started commercial production in Scotland.

The Scottish site is ready to supply the vaccine as soon as it is proven to be safe, and effective and has been approved by the British healthcare watchdog, the interim chair of government's vaccines taskforce, Clive Dix, said in a statement.

"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," Dix added.

Britain's trade minister said on Sunday she was confident the country's vaccination programme was secure following a row with the European Union about vaccine supplies after receiving guarantees from Brussels.

Valneva hopes its COVID-19 vaccine can start to be used in Britain between July and September, its chief executive was quoted as saying in January.

(Reporting by Sarah Morland in Gdansk; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Gareth Jones)

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/britain-raises-order-to-100-million-valneva-covid-19-vaccine-doses/ar-BB1dh8Vt

- - - - - - - - - - - - -  

Government orders an extra 40m doses of Valneva vaccine

The Government has ordered an extra 40 million doses of the Valneva Covid-19 vaccine which is being manufactured in Scotland.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/government-orders-an-extra-40m-doses-of-valneva-vaccine/ar-BB1dh3ma#image=1

 

By Jane Kirby, PA Health Editor

1 February 2021

The move means 100 million doses of Valneva have now been put on order, enough for every adult in the UK, with the latest batch earmarked for delivery in 2022.

The Government has also retained options over a further 90 million doses for supply between 2023 and 2025.

© Provided by PA Media (PA Graphics)

Valneva said the total value of the entire order was up to 1.4 billion euro (£1.24 billion).

The vaccine is still in clinical trials, with the early-stage phase 1/2 study expected to read out within the next three months.

The jab is expected to be given as two doses and is being made at a site in West Lothian, with the Government saying the new deal “will bolster long-term vaccine production in Scotland”.

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: “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.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “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.”

If it is approved, 60 million doses could start to be delivered to the UK by the second half of 2021.

On Sunday, International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said it is “too early” to determine when the UK will send vaccines abroad.

She said that “we first need to make sure that our population is vaccinated” but insisted it would be damaging to become a “vaccinated island” while other countries go without.

“It’s a bit too early to say about how we would deploy ‘XX’ vaccine, but we certainly want to work with friends and neighbours, we want to work with developing countries because we’re only going to solve this issue once everybody in the world is vaccinated,” Ms Truss told Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/government-orders-an-extra-40m-doses-of-valneva-vaccine/ar-BB1dh3ma#image=1