UK News Updates: UK has secured early access to 90 million COVID-19 vaccine doses through partnerships with pharmaceutical companies

The government says that the deals will ensure that the UK has the best chance to protect those at risk-if the vaccines succeed.

Thanks to partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, the UK has secured early access to 90 million COVID-19 vaccine doses.

The figure includes 30 million doses of a vaccine being developed by BioNTech and Pfizer, the first agreement that the two firms signed with any government. This vaccine reached trials in Phase 2.

The second deal is in principle an agreement for 60 million doses of a vaccine being developed by Valneva, with an option to get an additional 40 million doses if this vaccine is proven to be safe, effective and appropriate. Valneva, which has a factory in Livingston, Scotland, is developing an inactivated virus vaccine and is expected to contribute to clinical trial costs by the government.

Funds are also being negotiated to expand the Scottish facility to allow up to 100 million doses to be produced for the UK and around the world.

The third deal concerns AstraZeneca and gives the United Kingdom a possible one million doses of COVID-19 neutralizing antibodies that could be used to protect those who cannot be vaccinated, such as those who are immune-compromised.

The three agreements mean that England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland would have sufficient doses to vaccinate priority groups such as health and social care workers, and those at increased risk of serious coronavirus complications or death.

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Business Secretary Alok Sharma said the agreements "would ensure the UK has the best possible opportunity to achieve a vaccine that will protect those at the highest risk."

His cabinet colleague, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, told Sky News that the vaccine is the "best and safest route out of this crisis."

Mr. Williamson said to Kay Burley at Breakfast, "It's true that the government is investing and placing orders on these vaccines, so we have a number of options.

"And we are one of the countries that is better positioned to be able to deliver a wide variety of vaccines that will secure this nation for the future as we recover from this pandemic."

The other potential vaccines the government has secured access to are:

• A vaccine by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, which was the first to start Phase 3 trials in May. AstraZeneca will produce 100 million doses for the UK
• An mRNA vaccine by Imperial College London, which started human trials in June

Kate Bingham, Vaccine Taskforce chairman said: "The fact that we have so many successful candidates already shows the incredible speed we are working at.

"But I would advise you not to be complacent or too confident. The truth remains that we can never get a vaccine, even if we have one, we must be prepared not to be a vaccine that stops the virus from spreading, but instead one that decreases symptoms.

Meanwhile, the government has opened a website where people can register to engage in future studies of the vaccines.

The goal is to have 500,000 people signed up by October to enable large-scale studies across the UK to take place.

These trials, involving hundreds or thousands of volunteers, will help researchers understand each vaccine 's efficacy better, speeding up attempts to figure out what the secret to preventing the pandemic might be.