UK injects over £40 million into vaccine projects set for human trials

THE UK government has announced a £20-million funding for a Oxford University project on a Covid-19 vaccine, which is set for human trials from Thursday, and £22.5 million for Imperial College London to support its clinical trials.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the daily Downing Street briefing on Tuesday (21) that the health department was “throwing everything” at trying to find a vaccine because it is a critical aspect of the Covid-19 pandemic fight and lifting the strict lockdown measures in place to curb its spread.

"Both of these promising projects are making rapid progress, and I have told the scientists leading them that we will do everything in our power to support," he said, adding that it normally "would take years to get to this point."

"The UK is at the forefront of the global effort – we've put in more money than any other into the global search for a vaccine. Nothing about this is inevitable. Vaccine production is a matter of trial and error. But the UK will throw everything it has at trying to find one."

The announcement came as UK had another major daily leap in the hospital death toll from coronavirus, up by 823 to hit 17,337 by Tuesday.

Hancock said the government's plan to control the rapid spread of the virus and prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed was working as the rate of hospitalisations with Covid-19 was showing a downward trajectory.

He also maintained that the problems over PPE shortage were being addressed by actively engaging with thousands of companies, including 159 manufacturers in the UK.

“We are determined to get people the PPE they need. This is a 24/7 operation, one of the biggest cross-government operation I have ever seen," said Hancock.