EU steps in to secure vaccine supplies

The European Union has launched its own plans to accelerate Covid-19 vaccine development amid fears its members may be at the back of the queue for supplies.

The UK has done a deal with AstraZeneca to ensure rapid supplies of the vaccine being developed by Oxford University – although the project has been hampered by falling infection rates in the UK.

The European Union has now promised millions of Euros in grants to vaccine developers in return for access to vaccine doses, representing a "significant" part of its 2.7 billion Euro emergency package.

Within the EU, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands have already formed their own alliance – and the EU says it is seeking to expand this.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said: "This is a moment for science and solidarity. Nothing is certain – but I am confident that we can mobilise the resources to find a vaccine to beat this virus once and for all. We must be ready to manufacture and deploy such a vaccine across Europe and the world.

"This vaccine will be a breakthrough in the fight against the coronavirus, and a testament to what partners can achieve when we put our minds, research and resources together. The European Union will do all in its power to ensure that all peoples of this world have access to a vaccine, irrespective of where they live.”

The news gained backing from the Wellcome medical charity.

Alex Harris, from the trust, said: "The fastest, most effective way to beat COVID-19 is to globally pool expertise and funding – for that reason we hope other countries will be able to join the EU effort soon. Support for initiatives like this and the ACT-accelerator, are essential to ensuring everyone has access to vaccines and treatments.

“The EU and other countries must commit to securing only enough doses for their priority populations, so that sufficient doses are available for priority populations in low and middle income countries. We strongly support a fair and effective allocation strategy that puts health care workers and vulnerable groups first."