UK must secure cooperation of countries 'absent from concerted global effort' to fund vaccine research - Nandy

“We welcome the progress made at yesterday’s international pledging conference that secured £6.5bn in additional research funding for the development of a vaccine.

"The development, manufacture and distribution of an effective vaccine is the only way to defeat the spread of COVID-19 here and around the world, and a coordinated global effort will be vital in making that possible.

“The UK’s engagement in this global initiative to fund vaccine research is a positive first step, but we must now use our influence around the world to encourage others to join this collective fight.

“Securing the engagement of important international partners who are currently absent from this concerted global effort – notably China, the United States, India and Russia – is the only way we will overcome this threat.”