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<p>An established clinical countermeasures programme is a core component of our pandemic
preparedness and response capability, including vaccines and therapeutics. The UK
Biological Security Strategy, published in June 2023, reaffirms our ambition to scale
up discovery, development, and manufacturing of therapeutics and vaccines within 100
days.</p><p>In the Autumn Statement 2023, the Chancellor announced £520 million for
Life Sciences manufacturing to build resilience for future health emergencies and
capitalise on the United Kingdom’s world-leading research and development. This follows
previous investment through the Biomanufacturing Fund, to incentivise the manufacture
of vaccines and therapeutics, to improve the UK’s health resilience to future pandemics.</p><p>In
September 2023, the UK Health Security Agency agreed a deal for millions of life-saving
vaccines to be produced, with end-to-end manufacturing in the UK, if a future influenza
pandemic is ever declared. The advance purchase agreement means healthcare company
CSL Seqirus will be on standby to produce over 100 million pandemic influenza vaccines
from their manufacturing plant in Liverpool.</p><p>In December 2022, the Government
and Moderna entered a strategic partnership to set up mRNA research, development,
and manufacturing facilities in the UK. Under the partnership, Moderna will build
a new Innovation and Technology Centre in the UK, with the capacity to produce up
to 250 million vaccines per year, in the event of a pandemic.</p>
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