London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Jun 23, 2025

Britain Urged to Develop Vaccine Manufacturing Infrastructure as Essential Pandemic Preparedness

Britain Urged to Develop Vaccine Manufacturing Infrastructure as Essential Pandemic Preparedness

Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock advocates for domestic vaccine production capability after Covid-19 exposed international supply vulnerabilities.
The United Kingdom must prioritize establishing its own vaccine manufacturing capability as a crucial component of preparing for future pandemics, according to Matt Hancock, the country’s former health secretary.

Speaking at the Covid-19 public inquiry, Hancock emphasized the necessity for a sovereign, domestic production facility to ensure timely vaccine availability upon regulatory approval.

Hancock, who played a pivotal role in managing Britain’s response to the Covid-19 crisis, underscored that while the UK’s vaccine research is commendable, its manufacturing infrastructure lacks the capacity to produce the required doses at a large scale.

His testimony, provided under questioning by Hugo Keith KC, highlighted a previous assumption within the UK that the geographical location of vaccine manufacturing and the fill and finish processes was inconsequential in peacetime contexts.

However, the pandemic illustrated that this assumption was flawed due to the intense global demand for vaccines once they receive regulatory clearance.

“The moment a vaccine gets signed off, there’s going to be enormous demand, and geopolitical-level demand for this, therefore having that manufacture and fill and finish onshore, physically within the UK, is critical in the way that it simply isn’t in normal times,” Hancock stated.

Addressing issues that arose during the pandemic, Hancock criticized the European Union’s approach to vaccine distribution, referencing the dispute between the UK and Brussels over the allocation of the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

Despite being cautioned by Keith that UK-EU relations were beyond the scope of the inquiry, Hancock insisted that understanding these challenges is essential to avoid future pitfalls.

“A whole load of our vaccines were still manufactured on the European continent and that caused us significant problems,” he added.

The Covid inquiry, led by Heather Hallett, is currently examining vaccines and therapeutics, acknowledging them as rare successes in the UK’s broader crisis management, particularly through the development of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine and the discovery of dexamethasone’s life-saving potential.

Despite being the first nation to implement a Covid-19 vaccine rollout, the inquiry revealed that various communities, including ethnic minorities, disabled individuals, clinically vulnerable groups, migrants, and Travellers, encountered significant barriers in accessing vaccines, antivirals, and other treatments.

Challenges included limited access to information and guidance in multiple languages, as well as instances of discrimination and skepticism towards vaccine safety.

Complementing the inquiry's findings, Pat McFadden, the chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, announced plans for a national pandemic-preparedness exercise.

Aimed at testing the UK's readiness for future global health crises, this extensive exercise, recommended by the Covid inquiry, will involve thousands across the UK, scheduled to take place over several days in the coming autumn.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
×