UK signs supply deal for 60 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine – Gulf Today

UK signs supply deal for 60 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine – Gulf Today

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Britain has signed a supply deal for up to 60 million doses of a possible COVID-19 vaccine being developed by Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline , it said on Wednesday, its fourth such arrangement.



No vaccine has yet been approved to treat or prevent COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus that has killed more than 659,000 people and unleashed economic havoc worldwide.

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Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Sanofi and GSK, which had first teamed up in April, confirmed in a statement that regulatory approval for their vaccine could be won by the first half of 2021 if clinical data was positive.

A woman is seen wearing a protective face mask in London, Britain. File/Reuters

Britain has moved early in striking vaccine supply deals, and ministers have stressed the importance of securing supplies of a range of candidates.



"The fact remains that there are no guarantees," said business minister Alok Sharma.



"In the meantime, it is important that we secure early access to a diverse range