LONDON (UK) – The British government has ordered 40 million further doses of Valneva’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate for 2022, making its total orders to 100 million, as per the French drugmaker on Monday.
Britain could still place an order of a further 90 million doses between 2023 and 2025, according to the company.
The firm, which expects a read-out of its Phase I/II clinical trial within three months, said its commercial production in Scotland has already started.
The Scottish site is ready to provide the vaccine as soon as it is proven to be safe, and effective and gets the approval of the British healthcare watchdog, the interim chair of government’s vaccines taskforce, Clive Dix, said in a statement.
Dix added, “The further 40 million doses secured through today’s deal significantly bolsters our portfolio and gives us future flexibility should we need to revaccinate any of the UK population.”
Valneva hopes its COVID-19 vaccine can start for use in Britain between July and September, its chief executive was quoted as saying in January.