British government signs deal with GSK and Sanofi for potential Covid-19 vaccine

This is the fourth deal the UK Government has signed for potential coronavirus vaccines, worth a combined 250 million doses. Picture: PA

The UK Government has signed a deal with pharmaceutical giants GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Sanofi Pasteur for 60 million doses of a potential Covid-19 vaccine.

If the vaccine proves successful, the UK could begin to vaccinate priority groups, such as frontline health and social care workers and those at increased risk from coronavirus, as early as the first half of next year, the British Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said.