UK pre-orders highest rate of vaccines in the world

Research by Airfinity has shown that the UK has pre-ordered enough coronavirus vaccines for more than five doses per person, the highest rate in the world.

The analysis agency found that the British government has so far secured 380 million doses from a variety of global manufacturers, equating to 5.7 shots per person. Collectively, the world’s wealthiest countries, including the likes of the UK, US and Japan, have struck deals to buy more than two billion doses in a scramble that could leave limited supplies in the months to come.

At the same time, low and middle-income countries operating through the World Health Organisation’s Covax scheme, which aims to buy and fairly distribute vaccines, have yet to surpass the one dose per capita mark.

The UK has added six different candidates to its vaccine portfolio, and intends to double this number to increase the country’s chances of having access to a shot which proves effective. The US has so far placed orders for up to 1.6 billion vaccine doses, which equates to 4.88 shots per capita, while the EU has secured 1.49 billion, amounting to 3.33 doses per person.

Rasmus Hansen, the chief executive of Airfinity, told The Independent: “The UK is ahead globally for most advanced purchases per capita, and ahead of the US and the EU. There are multiple deals under discussion, so it’s a moving target. These numbers, even if they’re changing, they’re relevant.

“The production forecast shows that it’ll take quite a while for the whole supply chain and production capacity to ramp up to meet the global need. It’s very likely there’ll be a long time where there aren’t enough vaccines for everyone. That’s why getting these advance orders are important and typically involve supporting clinical trials and carrying part of the risk with these companies.”

Health experts have estimated that the first vaccine candidates are likely to be approved and rolled out by late 2020, or early next year.