Boris Johnson calls for new vaccines to be developed within 100 days

Boris Johnson has called for new vaccines to be developed within 100 days, vowing the move could prevent the UK from facing a repeat crisis like the coronavirus pandemic.

Boris Johnson has called for new vaccines to be developed within 100 days.

Chairing the first G7 meeting of the UK’s presidency, the Prime Minister will tomorrow urge Britain’s international partners to reduce the time it takes to develop new vaccines by two-thirds.

The development of a coronavirus vaccine took about 300 days, but the PM believes cutting the time could save countless lives, and even prevent the UK facing another crisis of this scale.

Mr Johnson has now asked Sir Patrick Vallance to work with international partners, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to help speed up the process.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Mr Johnson said: “Perhaps more than ever, the hopes of the world rest on the shoulders of scientists and over the last year, like countless times before, they have risen to the challenge.

“The development of viable coronavirus vaccines offers the tantalising prospect of a return to normality, but we must not rest on our laurels.

“As leaders of the G7 we must say today – never again.

“By harnessing our collective ingenuity, we can ensure we have the vaccines, treatments and tests to be battle-ready for future health threats, as we beat Covid-19 and build back better together.”

The 100-day ambition was originally proposed by CEPI earlier this year.

Mr Johnson also confirmed the UK would share the majority of any future surplus coronavirus vaccines with the COVAX procurement pool to support developing countries.

This comes in addition to the UK’s £548 million funding for the scheme. Mr Johnson will also be encouraging G7 leaders to increase their funding for COVAX.

The Prime Minister will call on G7 leaders to support a treaty on pandemic preparedness through the WHO.

At the meeting leaders are expected to confirm their support for the UK’s G7 health priorities and discuss wider efforts to address global challenges, as well as an international approach to a green economic recovery from coronavirus, and a number of foreign policy issues.

Number 10 sources stressed the Prime Minister’s Five Point Plan to Prevent Future Pandemics, first set out last year, will be a key focus of the UK’s G7 presidency this year.

Speaking last weekend, Mr Johnson promised to use the virtual event to call for global co-operation in the battle against the "common foe" of coronavirus.

He said: “Quantum leaps in science have given us the vaccines we need to end this pandemic for good.

"Now world governments have a responsibility to work together to put those vaccines to the best possible use.

"I hope 2021 will be remembered as the year humanity worked together like never before to defeat a common foe”.

The virtual G7 will be the first meeting of the Group of Seven nation leaders since US president Joe Biden took office.

In a statement, the White House said: "This virtual engagement with leaders of the world’s leading democratic market economies will provide an opportunity for President Biden to discuss plans to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic, and rebuild the global economy.

"President Biden will also discuss the need to make investments to strengthen our collective competitiveness and the importance of updating global rules to tackle economic challenges such as those posed by China.”

It is a marked change from his predecessor Donald Trump, who had withdrawn the US from the WHO and the Paris climate accord.

As the pandemic ravaged the world last May, Mr Trump had announced he was postponing the summit.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One at the time, he explained: "I don't feel as a G7 it probably represents what's going on in the world.

"It's a very outdated group of countries."

The G7 meeting will also include leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the European Commission and European Council.

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