LONDON: British Health Minister Matt Hancock has announced that a vaccine developed by researchers at Oxford University will be tested on people from tomorrow.
More vaccines would be prepared if trials are successful, it would potentially slow down the number of COVID-19 cases that has already claimed 175,000 lives and caused devastating economic damage.
While speaking at a press conference on Downing Street, Health Secretary Hancock announced that he was providing £20m to the Oxford team to help financially support its clinical trials, with a further £22.5m going to researchers at Imperial College London.
“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,” Hancock said.
He added, “The government will invest in manufacturing capability in order to make it available for the British people as soon as humanly possible.”
A report over the weekend claimed that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson skipped five emergency meetings as the crisis unfolded. Johnson’s government issued a lengthy response to the article refuting the claims.
Britain has been on lockdown since last month, and the government recently announced it would extend those measures by at least another three weeks. People are currently only allowed to leave their homes for essential supplies, exercise, and work.
The UK remains one of the worst-hit countries in Europe due to coronavirus. The country sits behind Italy, Spain, and France in the total number of virus deaths in Europe.
The UK’s coronavirus death toll now stands at 16,509, while 125,856 have tested positive for the disease.
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