Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how they are prioritising global access to vaccines for poorer countries; what estimate they have made of the number of agreements for early vaccine access which the government of China has signed with developing nations, including the loan provision to buy Chinese vaccines; and how that compares to the progress made by the WHO-led COVAX programme.

The UK will deliver on its commitment to global equitable access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines through our commitment to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC). The UK is the largest funder to the COVAX AMC with a commitment of up to £548 million. This will contribute to 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines for 92 developing countries in 2021, and immunisation for up to 500 million people (subject to vaccines successfully securing stringent regulatory approvals). The COVAX AMC has achieved its 2020 funding target for $2 billion to secure vaccine supply for 92 developing countries. It has announced agreements with several companies. Negotiations with additional companies are ongoing.

At least 4 vaccines developed by Chinese companies are in phase 3 efficacy trials. Results are not yet available. Other vaccines are in earlier stages of development. Several countries have announced bilateral agreements to support clinical trials, manufacturing and for future procurement. China has joined the COVAX Facility for self-financing countries to access vaccines for its domestic use. We continue to promote the COVAX AMC as the best mechanism to support equitable and rapid global access to safe and effective vaccines for low- and middle-income countries.