The UK government has announced a £33.2 million investment in vaccine projects to protect against future epidemic and pandemic threats. This funding will support eight projects targeting some of the world's deadliest infectious diseases, including Ebola, Plague, Marburg, Lassa fever, Nipah virus, chikungunya, and Mayaro.
The investment aims to strengthen the UK's capability to develop, test, and deploy vaccines quickly during future outbreaks. Health Minister for Science, Innovation and Investment, Chris McDonald, stated that this investment will back scientists to develop and deploy vaccines faster and strengthen pandemic preparedness.
The programme, delivered through Innovate UK and supported by the UK Vaccine Network, has previously aided the development of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Sir Chris Whitty, noted that these projects aim to prevent some of the most dangerous infectious diseases globally.
The funding will also help make vaccines affordable, accessible, and ready for use in countries at greatest risk, supporting people in low and middle-income countries. Richard Pebody, director of epidemic and emerging infections at UKHSA, highlighted that having effective vaccines and manufacturing capability is essential for a rapid response to emerging health threats.