- PM will call on world leaders to back efforts to speed up the
development of new vaccines, treatments and tests at G7 meeting
- Slashing the time to develop vaccines for new diseases to 100
days will save countless lives in future health crises
- UK confirms it will send the majority of any future surplus
vaccines to the COVAX scheme to support developing countries
The Prime Minister is setting out his ambition today [Friday] to
cut the time to develop new vaccines by two-thirds to 100 days,
as he chairs the first G7 leaders’ meeting of the UK’s
presidency.
He has asked Sir to work
with international partners, including the WHO and the Coalition
for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), as well as industry
and scientific experts to advise the G7 on speeding up the
process for developing vaccines, treatments and tests for common
pathogens.
The development of a coronavirus vaccine in approximately 300
days was a huge and unprecedented global achievement. By reducing
the time to develop new vaccines for emerging diseases even
further, we may be able to prevent the catastrophic health,
economic and social repercussions seen in this crisis. The 100
day ambition was proposed by CEPI earlier this year.
Through international collaboration to intensify research and
development, modernise medical trials and create more innovative
vaccine manufacturing and supply chains, we can save lives in
future health crises and prevent the next pandemic.
The Prime Minister has also confirmed today that the UK will
share the majority of any future surplus coronavirus vaccines
from our supply with the COVAX procurement pool to support
developing countries, in addition to the UK’s £548 million
funding for the scheme. He will be encouraging G7 leaders to
increase their funding for COVAX in support of equitable access
to vaccines.
Speaking ahead of today’s meeting, the Prime Minister said:
“Perhaps more than ever, the hopes of the world rest on the
shoulders of scientists and over the last year, like countless
times before, they have risen to the challenge.
“The development of viable coronavirus vaccines offers the
tantalising prospect of a return to normality, but we must not
rest on our laurels. As leaders of the G7 we must say today:
never again.
“By harnessing our collective ingenuity, we can ensure we have
the vaccines, treatments and tests to be battle-ready for future
health threats, as we beat Covid-19 and build back better
together.”
Delivering on the objectives in the Prime Minister’s Five Point
Plan to Prevent Future Pandemics –
first
set out at the UN last year - will be a key focus
of the UK’s G7 presidency this year. The Prime Minister will also
call on G7 leaders to support a treaty on pandemic preparedness
through the WHO.
Today’s meeting will be the first hosted by the PM as part of the
UK’s G7 Presidency this year and the first gathering of G7
leaders since April 2020.
At the meeting leaders are expected to confirm their support for
the UK’s G7 health priorities and discuss wider efforts to
address global challenges and secure a sustainable, green
economic recovery from coronavirus, as well as a number of
foreign policy issues.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- Sir is the
UK’s Chief Scientific Adviser.
- The first cluster of COVID cases was reported in China on
December 31st 2019,
and the first successful vaccine trial was announced by
Pfizer-Biontech on November 9th 2020 – 314 days later.
- We expect to be able to identify any UK vaccine surplus later
this year. This is dependent on continued supply chain
reliability and whether new vaccines are needed for variant
strains or as a booster dose in the Autumn.
- The leaders of the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan
and the USA and the Presidents of the European Council and the EU
Commission will meet at 1400 GMT today [Friday 19th February] for
a virtual teleconference.
- This is a closed-door meeting. Further details will be shared
for photo and video pool opportunities at the top of the meeting
and a readout will be issued after.
- The UK’s G7 website will go live at 22.30 on 18th February - www.g7uk.org
