UK govt. announces testing of coronavirus vaccine from Thursday

The UK government announces the testing of the coronavirus vaccine from Thursday.

the British health secretary Matt Hancock made the announcement that the human trials of a potential coronavirus vaccine developed at the University of Oxford are to begin on Thursday,

Speaking at the daily Downing Street press conference, Mr. Hancock said that the government was “throwing everything” at the search for a vaccine and announced he was providing £20m to the Oxford team to help fund its clinical trials, with a further £22.5m going to researchers at Imperial College London.

UK health secretary said that the government will now invest in manufacturing capability so that if either the Oxford or Imperial vaccine works safely, it will be made available to the UK public “as early as humanly possible”.

“The upside of being the first country in the world to develop a successful vaccine is so huge that I am throwing everything at it,” he said.

“In the long run, the best way to defeat coronavirus is through a vaccine.

“This is a new disease, this is uncertain science, but I’m certain that we will throw everything we’ve got at developing a vaccine.

“The UK is at the forefront of the global effort. We’ve put more money than any other country into the global search for a vaccine. And for all the efforts around the world, two of the leading vaccine developments are taking place here.”

The UK Heath secretary cautioned that hopes of a breakthrough on a vaccine should not tempt people to become complacent in social-distancing measures.

He added that the “Coronavirus is a powerful enemy. But I believe that the power of human ingenuity is stronger.

“Every day the science gets better, we gather more information, we understand more about how to defeat the illness.

“But in the meantime, there’s one thing we can do – and that is stay home, protect the NHS, and save lives.”