500,000 volunteers sought as UK secures access to 90 million ‘coronavirus vaccine’ doses

By Robert Cumber
Published 20th Jul 2020, 11:39 BST
Updated 20th Jul 2020, 11:39 BST
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The UK is seeking 500,000 people to sign up for potentially lifesaving studies, after securing access to potential coronavirus vaccines.

The Government has secured early access to 90 million doses of what it calls ‘promising’ vaccines being developed by the BioNTech/Pfizer alliance and Valneva and says more are ‘in the pipeline’.

Coronavirus outbreak confirmed at UK NHS Test and Trace call centre

It has also agreed a deal to get treatments containing ‘Covid-19-neutralising’ antibodies from AstraZeneca to protect those who cannot receive vaccines.

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The Government wants 500,000 people to sign up for potential coronavirus vaccine trials by October (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)The Government wants 500,000 people to sign up for potential coronavirus vaccine trials by October (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)
The Government wants 500,000 people to sign up for potential coronavirus vaccine trials by October (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)

Ministers are now encouraging people to sign up to a new NHS website making it easier for volunteers to join vital vaccine studies in the future, with the target of getting 500,000 people to register by October.