Coronavirus vaccine trials set to begin this week - Everything Health Secretary Matt Hancock said about a coronavirus vaccine at Downing Street conference

Mr Hancock stated the only way to ‘beat’ coronavirus was to develop a working vaccine with the UK investing more money towards the global effort than anyone else.

And according to the Health Secretary, ‘rapid progress’ has been made with vaccine trials set to commence on Thursday, April 23.

Speaking in the Daily Downing Street briefing, Mr Hancock stated: “The UK is at the forefront of the global effort.

“For all the efforts around the world, two of the leading vaccine developments are taking place here at home, at Oxford and Imperial.”

The Government will be providing £22.5 million worth of funding to the Imperial project and £20 million to the Oxford team.

“I can announce that the vaccine from the Oxford project will be trialled in people from this Thursday,” Hancock added.

“In normal times, reaching this stage would take years and I’m very proud of the work taken so far. At the same time, we will invest in manufacturing capability so that if either of these vaccines safely work, we can make it available for the British people as soon as humanely possible.”

The coronavirus pandemic has led to a countrywide lockdown which is now into its fifth week. As of Tuesday, April 21, 129,044 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK with a further 17,337 losing their lives in hospital.

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