Coronavirus: Labour warns of ‘vaccine nationalism’ as global race to find cure intensifies

Concern raised over prospect of governments scrambling to secure their own populations’ vaccine needs instead of prioritising global efforts to fight Covid-19, writes Samuel Lovett

Numerous vaccine candidates are currently being trialled on humans (AFP/Getty)

Labour has warned of the growing threat of “vaccine nationalism” as the global race to develop a form of immunisation against Covid-19 intensifies.

A number of governments across the world, including the UK and US, have already clinched production deals for the leading vaccine candidates that are being developed by the top pharmaceutical giants.

Last month, business minister Alok Sharma announced a £65.5m agreement with AstraZeneca, which was earlier granted the licensing for the promising Oxford University vaccine, that will see the firm deliver a total of 100 million doses for people in Britain.